Year: 1859

clear, dismal and walIng with that fearful
tone which startles the boldest, even at their
fresides. BIeir turned, and as cur eyes met
he slowly whispered.


"a PACK OF HUNGRY WOLVES God have
mercy upon us


A sickening sensation went like flash to
the heart, and then came burning thoughts of
home, and again the chills, as thought of the
Shelterless prairie and binding snow.


" gain the black devils are on our
tracks I" As Blair spoke he laid his hand
upon my arm, and with an expression of sad
ness which | never shall forget, looked me
steadily in the eye. There was tremor of
the lip which / had never seen before. 1t
was not fear-I knew that-but some terrible
remembrance or presentment which came over
him with irresistible power.


The hour has come | knew it would
have felt it for days DO not fear death, but
it is horrible to be hunted down in such spot
as this, and be torn by Internal devils"


His breath came thick and kissing through
his clenched teeth, and his chest heaved with
intense emotion .. ..


Here" said he, lifting the soiled string over
his head, and taking a locket attached to it in
his hand is the shadow of one you never
knew, but the original was once the light of
my young lfe and came with me to this ter
ritory when the world was bright with hope.
left her 10 the cabin one day, and went to
my work as usual She crossed the valley
and came where was working. Wishing TO
fell the tree | was at work upon, | urged her
to cross the log over the creek before dark g,
and | would Immediately follow her. She had
not been gone but a little time, when there
burst up between me and our cabin that long
freezing sound, the howl of wolf 1t was
answered as if from thousand thrOatS up
and down the valley, until one wild, startling,
urearthy howl swelled on the still evening air.
God, how that howl went to the soul
reeled in utter weakness a moment, but soon
rallied, and with the speed aud energy of des-
pair, rushed down the path. | had reached
the stream, and was upon the old trunk thrown
across, when another and a different sound
reached my ears. 1t seemed that my brain
would burn into ashes under the fiery heat, and
my heart burst from my bosom. That was
the cry of my wife, a clear wailing shrek of
mental agony"


Blair dropped his head and thrust his fin
gers into his ears as if that terrible sound was
again ringing through the forest. A moment,
and he hurriedly resumed


i remember no more until the morning
broke, and the sun smiled through the trees
upon the terrible scene. 1t was horrible
The ground was torn and stained with dark
spots where pools of blood had sunk away.
Seven long black bodies lay around gashed by
the axe, some of them glaring iercely as they
fell, their tongues thrust out, aud the white
fangs cleaning fearfully in their open jaws.
The axe itself lay within reach, red with blood
its entire length. My own arms were also
stained, and still damp. But, God of mercy
a worse sight than all this met my gaze of re
turning consciousness. Tightly in my arms
was holding the head of my wife, her form
bare and limbs torn into shreds


The old man sobbed cOnvulSively, and wrung
his hands until it seemed that the blood would
start from his fingers.


=" Comingw


Again, and nearer than before the dismal
howl rose above the storm. The camp fire
burned dimy in the binding storm of snow
and a sense Of loneliness aud terror came over
the spirit darker than the sky overhead


Here, take this" said Blair, as he handed
me the locket, "and if you survive, carry il
To-, New York, and l will thank you
Boy, am not afraid to die. Death will be
rest, and shall see Maria We must take
to the tree, 1t is freeze, or death by the
wolves. Quick boy Good bye"
felt the hot tears drop on my hand as the
old man press ed his quivering lips upon it
and then pushed on towards the tree.


We had need to be quick, for We had hardly
reached the branches when a score of long
gloomy shadows shot out of the surrounding
darkness, and sent up yell which went to the
heart colder than the breath of the wiEtry
blast They paid but little attention to the
dim fire; and scentng their prey gathered in
shadowy circle beneath us


Lash yourself fast, boy, and commend
your soul to God, for you will freeze, and bet
ter to rot on the oak than to be torn by the
| devils"


| "It'S no use" he continued, as | suggested
| that the sound of our guns might reach the
inmates of the cabin, "thCy would not heal
'em in the storm, and besides, | swear by tn,
/ living God that will send some of them tC
h-ll before die"


! Blair commenced his deadly work, al, d al
one of the wolves fell the others fought auC
snared, and gnashed their teeth over the hor
rid feast. Their teeth sounded like the smit
ing of steel upon steel. Still they howleC
more fercely as the slaughter went on.


My gun is wet, and will not CO." hearC
Blair mutter with a curse. damn 'em, II
try them with the axe"


My wildly uttered warning was too late,
for, as it swelled above the sounds below
with unnatural strength Blair leaped dowr
with shout of rage and defiance, and will
bis axe and knife fought the pack face to face


| grew sick at heart as [ watched will
burning eye-bals the struggle through tn
darkness could see the black forms swarm
ing around the trunk, where Blair had hacked
up. After the first howl of JOY, as it seemed
to me, when Blair jumped down, the wolve
we're less noisy, and apparently more wary, TO