The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-26

to start fire at night in camp, or when
cooking. There are beautiful plains and
mountains and valleys in the Mackenzie
River country, but the solitude is some
times oppressive. My partner and tray
eled for months without seeing human
being. Occasionally we found Indian
hunters or traupers in the vicinity OF a
Hudson Bay Company's trading post.
"One night Seeta and l camped In a
small prairie IN a pretty valley. We hob
bled our ponies, ate supper, and then fell
asleep in our tepee About 2 O'Clock at
night l was awakened by the bowling OF
wolves, and the noise showed that they
were coming our way at rapid clip.
woke Seeta. and he grabbed his Wlnches'
ter and jumped to his feet. Our campfire
had burned low, and we quickly threw
on the embers large pile of dry brush
we had gathered to cook with next morn
ing. Tie two ponies scented the wolves
ard heard the ominous howling, and
worked their way to our tepee. we cut
the hobbies, and the two ponies stood side
10y side as near the tepee as possible. One
pony had his head in one direction, and
the other in The opposite direction. A
horse or pony will always run to the
nearest human being when trouble comes.
I had two good six shooters, and Seeta
held his Winchester in his hand, and we
waited for the wolves TO come.
'tThe hungry beasts were soon upon US
1t was a beautiful moonlight night, and
| shall never forget the sight OF that PACK
of about thirty large timber wolves
bounding toward us across the green
prairie and bowling until the ecnoes
| filled the entire valley. Seeta and stook
our places as near the fire as possible, and
SO did the two ponies. The ponies how
cred near us, as if they knew they were
to aid us in fighting o common enemy.
We did not fire shot until the wolves
were within 40 feet OF us. Seeta, with
characteristic GOODNESS, took as deliberate
aim as if he were firing at a target, and
at the first crack of his Winchester large
wolf rolled over dead. The other wolves
tumbled over one another in jumping
upon the dead wolf, for they were enragetl
by the smell OF blood The dead wolf
was torn into pieces in less time IMAM IL
takes to tell about it. While the pack was
punched together over the dead wolf SeeIa
and L both fired several shots and wound
ed several others. Then the enfageu An
mails made for us and our ponies. we
stood almost in the fire, while the wolves
darted around us and leaped in the air
| in an effort to reach our threats. Inc
moment a wolf fell dead from one of our
shots he was pounced upon by the other
| wolves of the pack and torn into shreds
in the tWinkling of an eye. That IL u
well know characteristic of wolves. The
only respites we had in the fight was
when the pack turned on dead wolf
"Again the wolves made charge for
us, had narrow escape. A big, power
fui wolf leaped into the air and snapped
at my throat. was wearing a big
muff1er and the teeth Of the wolf caught
| in the garment. In second L stabbed
the wolf through and through the throat
with hunting knife, and he fell dead
and was pulled away by the other wolves
and chewed up in jiffy. But made
one nislick with the knife and the blade
| swished across the back of my left hand
| While the wound was not particularly
dangerous 1t was quite painful, ana |
was soon covered with bloodstalns. But
| | had no time to think about my knife
wound in the hand, us l WAS us1Eg my
six-shooters with good effect
| "A new danger now confronted US. Inc
| immense brush heap was now making
a roaring blaze, and the heat was SO IN
tense that our backs were being bllstered.
| Besides, there was danger of our clothing
catching fire. Another fearful charge
was made by the hungry wolves. SUD,
denly Seeta gave a warhoop and seemed
to become crazed with anger. ne thre"
down his Winchester and picked up q
double bitted ak. He swung the ak, rlgnt
and left with both hands, and ne mace
fearful slaughter among the wolves tha'
darted around him. He seemed TO De
mailman. All his Indian savagefy was