Year: 1879

"A number of years ago." said an old settler, whom l met on my Western travels, took my family to Wisconsin, and located myself in the woods, about ten miles from the nearest settlement, and at least five from the nearest neigh bor. The country round was mostly forest; and wild beasts and Indians were so numerous, that my friends at the East, to whom I gave q description of my locality, expressed great fears for our safety, and said they should be less sur prised to learn of our having all been cut off than to hears of our still being alive out there at the end of a couple of years.

 However, 1 did not feel much alarmed on my own account-and my wife was as brave as a hunter; but then we had three children-the oldest only ten-and sometimes, when 1 was away from home, the sudden growl of bear, the howl of wolf, or the scream of panther would make me think of them, and feel quite uneasy.

 For. a while, at first. the night screeching and bowling of these wild animals alarmed the children good deal-and sometimes my wife and me especially when we mistook the cry of the panther for an Indian yell; but we soon got used to the different sounds, and then did not mind them so much; and after I had got a few acres cleared around the dwelling, they generally kept more distant at night-just as if they comprehended that the place, now in the possession of their enemies, was no longer to be an abode for them. Be- sides, now and then shot one, which thinned them a little, and probably frightened the others, for they gradually became less bold and annoying.

 During the first year l had two rather narrow escapes-once from bear, and once from a panther; but the most remarkable adventure of all was the one which happened during the second winter, and which I have always designated as Night with the Wolves. ,

 "One bitter cold morning-the ground being deeply covered with snow, so crlIsted and f ozen that no feet could sink into it-I brought out the horse for my wife to ride to C., the nearest settlement. where she had some pur- c.lases to make, which she wished to attend to herself. Besides being well mufiled up in her own clothing, 1 wrapped large buffalo robe around her; and admonishing her that the woods were full of danger after dark, I urged her to be sure and get back before sunset, which she promised to do.

 :" All day long, after her departure, HUH sothC TUT WulCu l COulu HOb account, I felt very much depressed and uneasy, as if something evil were going to happen and when I saw the sun about half an hour high, and no signs of my wife returning, l got out my pistols, rife, ammunition and hunting knife. saddled a young and rather skittish colt, and bidding the children keep within dools, and the house safely locked. I mounted and rode off to meet her, which l expected to do at every turn of the horse path. But at every turn I was doomed to disappointment; and when I had put mile after mile behind me, with out seeing any signs of her, became more and more alarmed, and dashed on still faster.

 '' It was just about dark when saw the lights of C. cleaning in the dis tanee; but before l reached the town I met my wife hastening homeward she having been unexpectedly detained by meeting an old acquaintance, who had recently come on from the Eastward, and with whom she had remained to gather fhe news and take supper-the time passing away so quickly as to render her bcjated before she was aware of it.

 :. was greatly rejoiced to find her safe and unharmed-but not a. little puzzled 10 account for my presentiment of evil, which it appeared to me had -tsken place without cause-though in this respect I was greatly mistaken, as flae sequel will show.