The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-02

my utter dismay, went flying out over
| the prairie. What thought was my
ruin, however, was my salvation. As
the horse started off the wolves fol.
lowed him. and every ono joined III
the chase, leaving me entirely alone.
] had no time to spare, and, making up
my mind instantly, struck out ahead
If could reach small ranch some
ten miles ahead knew I would be all
right, and of course it would be folly to
try to go back, so settled down to a
walk which l hoped to keep up for
hours. A glance to the left showed
mo that my horse was trying to make
his way back over tho road we had
come.
In about an hour or more ap-
preached one of the few ravines that
one sees in that country, along the side
of which the road ran, and heard q
short distance ahead that sharp, snap
ping snarl that wolves give when they
are worrying some animal. I could
not avoid them, and, as there appeared
to be only two or three, drew my re-
volver and walked right ahead.
Turning corner suddenly 1 came
upon sight which do not believe l
can ever forget About q dozen
wolves had surrounded and were now
holding at bay and trying to worry to
death splendid specimen of an old
buffalo bull The skin hung in shreds
on his legs, and he was bleeding and
standing in n pool of blood. The
vicious, hungry beasts had lost about
half their number on tho horns or
under the hoofs of the old fellow, but
they had actually torn out his eyes in
the struggle, and he stood there with
the small bluff behind him and with
his face to the foe, stamping and
crushing them when he could, though
stone blind. AS turned the corner
large wolf had sprung upon him, and 1
at once shot him. At the sound of nv
pistol the old bull started and
trembled violently, but feeling his
enemy fall at his feet he jumped upon
him with incredible fury and stamped
him out of allshape. The next one 1
shot the bull seemed to realize that it
was friend rather than an enemy
who had arrived, for he felt for the
wolf as it fell and stamped it as before,
but did not seem at all frightened at
my pistol shot.
The long, dismal bowls which had
been hearing in every direction kept
coming nearer all the time, and
L was fully five miles from the
ranch of Mr.. Lewis I had
hoped to reach. 1t would be sure
death to try to reach Lewis, so de-
cided l would stay and take nv
chances with the buffalo bull 1
would at least have the advantage of
the ravine. The wolves increased in
horc f1r
them out, and in q short while we
ficnds. Slowly, but cons .antly, the
space between me and the old bull
lessencd. He became so convinced
that 1 was friend that he made no
effort to guard the side toward me at
all, but devoted his entire energies to
the opposite side and in front. had
all could do to protect myself and
keep the scoundrels Off, but could not
resist occasionally turning and killing
one for the old bull, which he seemed
to appreciate, judging from the vigor
with which he demolished each one 1
shot.
But slowly, though surely, the wolves
become bolder and more numerous.
1t was simply question of time, and 1
was beginning to give up. when
heard rifle-shot in the distance
answered it with two quick shots and
then waited. 1t seemed like
hours, but was only n minute or two,
till l heard the rifle shot again-this
time much closer. In a very short
while | was saved. My host of the
evening before had lost some cattle,
and while looking them up with sew
cral of his hands had come across my
horse while the wolves were devour-
ing him. AS no signs appeared of my
being injured, he felt satisfied 1 was
somewhere within few miles and
needing assistance. AS consequence
he had dropped everything else to look
for me, and had found me-
We examined thoroughly to see if
the bull was blind beyond hope. and
found that he was, SO i asked nv
friends to put him out of his misery-I
gould not bear to do it myself-and so
they did.
have had some little experience
with wolves once or twice since then,
but that was the closest call, think, ]
ever had. Louis Globe Democrat.
HER DOUBTFUL COMPLIMENT.