Year: 1879

puzzled TO account for my preSentiment
OF. evil which it appeared to me had
taken place without cause-though in
this respect | was greatly mistaken, as
the sequel will show.


We now set off at brisk trot home
ward-through a dense, dark, gloomy
wood, which lined our way on either
side-and had safely proceeded about
five miles, when we were somewhat
startled by. a series of long, plaintive
howls, at a considerable distance, and in
different directions, and which our ex-
perience told us were wolves, seemingly
calling and answering each other through
the great forest.


1.-The wolves of this region were of
the larger and fiercer species; and though
ordinarily and singly they might not at
tack human being, yet in numbers and
pressed by hunger. as they generally were
at this season of the year, | by no means
felt certain that we should not be
molested. rs aae lE6N


" Accordingly we quickened the pace
of our horses and as we hurried on grew
every moment,more uneasy and alarmed
as | noticed that many of the sounds
gradually approached us. We had Just
entered deep hollow. where few large
trees stretched their huge branches over
a dense thicket, when suddenly there
arose several loud, harsh, baying and
snarling sounds close at hand. The next
moment there was quick rustling and
thrashing among the bushes; and then
some six or eight large wolves-lean
gaunt and maddened with hunger
sprung into the path close beside u.s.


This happened SO suddenly and un-
expectedly that my wife gave slight
scream and dropped her rein; and the
horse, rearing and plunging at the same
moment. unseated her; and she fell to
the ground, right in the very midst of
| the savage beasts, whose glaring eyes
slione in the darkness like so many Goals
of fire.


Fortunately her sudden fall startled
the wild animals little; and as they
momentarily drew back, she, with rare
presence of mind. at once gathered her
| buffalo robe, which she had dragged with
! her, in such a manner about her person
as to protect herself from the first onset
of their fangs. The next moment the
| fcrocious animals, with the most savage
growls, sprung at her, at me, and at the
| two horses simultaneously. Hers at
once shook himself clear of his foes and
| fled; and mine began to rear and plunge
in such a manner that could not make
use of a single weapon, and only by main
| strength kept him from running away
with me.


"It was a terrible moment of exciting
agony; ard the instant that / could re-
lease my feet from the stirrups / leaped
to the ground with yell-my rifle slip
ping from my hands, and discharging it
self by the conclusion, and my steed
rushing ike lightning after his flying
|
Luckily, / had my loaded pistols and
my knife convenient to my grasp; and
scarcely conscious of what / was doing,
but thinking only that the dear mother
of my little ones lay fairly beneath three
or four of the furiously fighting and
snarling wild beasts, ] grasped the
| at the same instant, and fairly jumping
into the midst of my enemies, placed the
muzzles against the heads of two that
had turned to rend me, and fired them
both together.


both shots, thank God took effect
it could not be otherwise-and as the
two wolves rolled bowling back in their
death agonies, their starving companions,
smelling and getting taste of their
blood and instinctively comprehending
that they were now fairly in their power,
fell upon them with the most rayenous
fury, and literally tore them to pieces,
and devoured them before my very eyes,
almost over the body of my wife, and in
less, | should say, than minute of time.


sAscertaining by few anxious in
quiries that my wife was still alive and
unframed, bade her remain quiet, and,
picking up my rifle, I proceeded to load
all my weapons with the greatest dis
patch.


'fAs soon as | had rammed the first
ball home felt tempted to shoot another
of the animals; but at that moment /
heard distant bowling, and fearing we
should soon be beset by another pack,
| reserved my fire for the next extreme
danger and hurriedly loaded the others.


6 By the time i had fairly completed
this operation our first assailants, having
nearly gorged themselves upon their
more unfortunate companions, began to
sink away; but the cries of the others
at the same time growing nearer, warned
me to be upon my guard.


. / had Just succeeded in getting my
wife more securely rolled in her protect
ing robe-as the safest thing I could do
in that extremity myself, pistols in
hand, in defensive attitude over her
body, when some eight or ten more of
the savage and desperate creatures made
their appearance upon the scene.


..'There was a momentary pause as
they came into view and discovered me
during which their eyes glared and
shone like living Goals and then, with
terrific growls and snarls, they began to
circle round me, each moment narrow
ing the space between US.


Suddenly one more daring or hungry
than the others bounded forward and
received shot from one of my pistols
directly between the eyes, and as he
rolled back upon the snow part of the
others sprang upon him, as in the case
of the first.


.'But / had no time to congratulate
myself that had disposed of him; for
almost at the same instant felt the lac
Grating fangs of another in my thigh,
which caused me to shrek with pain;
and my poor wife, with an answering
shrek, believing it was all over with
me, was about to get up and face the
worst, when, shouting to her not to
stir, that 1 was still safe, placed my
pistol against the head of my assailant,
and stretched him quivering on the
snow also.


still had my rifle in reserve; and
pointing that at the fighting pack, |
poured its contents among them. How
many were wounded | do not know:
but almost Immediately the space around
us became once more cleared of our
Il