Year: 1860

my chilled veins, for knew that Luke Blair
would not speak so without cause.


" lIark "


The word was but whisper, but had terri
BILE distinctness His hand had irvoluntarily
sought his rife, and his head turned towards
the woods, | heard nothing but the wild roar
Of the storm as it swept by.


" There It's again The devils are on our
track > and he clutched his knife handle with
a steady grasp, and breathcd hardly between
his thin nostrils


heard the noise this time, which had at
tracted his attention before, swelling, as the
storm lullel an instant, into a wild protracted
howl as from the thousand famishcd throats,
clear, dismal and wailiug with that fearful tone
which startles the bodest, even at their fresides.
Blair turned, and as our eyes met he slowly
whispered,


a PACK OF HUNGRY WOLVES God have
mercy upon us "


A sckening sensation went like flash to the
heart, and then came burning Thoughts of
home and again the chills, as thought of the
shclteress prairie and binding snow


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


" The hour has come knew 1t 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 byinfernal devils"


His breath came thick and Kissing through
his clenchod teeth, and his chest heaved with
intense emotion.


Here" said he, lifting the soiled string
over his head, and taking locket attached to
it in his hano, " is the shadow of one you never
knew, but the original was once the light of
my young life, and came with me to this terri
tory when the world was bright with hope
L left her in the cabin one day, and went to my
work as usual. She crossed the valley, and
came where was working. Wishing to tell
the tree was at work upon, l urged her to
cross the log over the creek before dark, and I
would Immediately follow her. She had not
been gone"but little time, when there burst
up between me and our cabin that long, freez-
- e Il
ed as if from a thousand throats up and down
the valley, until one wild, startling, unearthly
howl swellod on the still evening air. God, how
that howl went to the soul | reelcd in utter
weakness moment but soon rallied, and with
the speed and energy Of despair, rushed down
the path. | had reached the stream, and was
upon the old trunk thrown across, when an
other and different sound reached my cars
II 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,
clear, wailing shrek Of mental agony"


Blair dropped his head and thrust his fingers
into his ears, aslf that terrible sound was again
ringing through the forest. A moment, and he
hurriedy resumed


81 remember no more until the morning
broke, and the sun smiled through the trees up
on the terrible scene. 1t was horrible The
ground was torn and stainad with dark spots
where pools of blood had sunk away. Seven
long black bodies lay around gashed by tht axe,
some of them glaring fercely as they fell, their
tongues thrust out, and the white iangs CLEAN
ing fearrully in their open jaws. The axe it
self lay within reach, red with blood it's entire
length. My own arms we've also stained, and
still damp. But, God of mercy! worse sight
than all this met my gaze Of returning con-
sciousness. Tightly in my arms was holding
the head Of my wife, her form and limbs torn
into shrcds.


The old man sobbcd convulsively, and wrung
his bands until it seemed that the blood would
start from his fingers.


4" Coming "


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


q Here, take this said Blair, as he handed
me the locket, " and il you survive, carry it to


-, New York. and Twill 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 pressed his quiyoGng lips upon it, and
then pushed on towards the trees.