A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2950, 27 September 1879, Page 3

A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.

"A NUMnivßof years nRo," said an old settler, whom I mot on my western travels, " I took ray family to 'Wisconsin, and located myself in the wooos, ah <ut len miles from the nearest settlement, and at least live from tao nearest neighbor. Tho country round was mostly forest; and wild blasts and Indians were so numerous, that my flieuds lit tliu east, to whom 1 gave a description of my locality, expressed great fearo for our safety, and .said they should ba less surprised to hear of our having all been out off than to hear of our still being alive out there at the end of a couple of years. ■• However, I did not feel much alarmed on my own acco nt-aiid my wife wns as brave an a hunter; but then we had three children—the oldest; only ten—and sometimes, when I was away from home, ths sudden growl of v bear. I he howl of a wolf, or tho scream of a panther, would make me think of them and feel quite uneasy. " For a while, at first, the night-soreeclnng nn'l howling of these wild animals alarmed the children a good deal—and sometimes my wife and me—earecially whun we mistook tho cry of tho panther for an Indian jell; 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 cloared around tho dwelling, they generally kept more distant at night—just us »f they comprehended that the place, now in possession of their enemies, was no longer to be an abode for them. Besides, I now and then Bhot one, which thinned them a little, and probably frightened the others, for they gradually became less bold and annoying. "During the first year I had two rather narrow cacaoes—once from a bear and once from a panther; the moat remarkable adventure oE all whs the one whinh happened during the second winter, and which 1 navo always designated as a 'Night with th.i Wolves' " Ond bitter cold morning, the ground being deeply covered with snow, so crusted and frozen thai no feet could sink into it, I bi ought out the horse for my wife to ride to <J—. tho nearest settlement, where she had some purchases to muke which she wished to attend to herself. Besiile.-i being well mulllert up in her own clothing I wrapped a large buffalo robe around her, und admonishing bur that the woods were full of clanger after dark, I urged her to be euro and get back before sunset, which ahu promised " All day long after her departure, from some cause for which I could not account, L felt very much depressed andunousy, as if somcthmg evil were going 10 happen; and when I saw tho Bun about half an nour high and no signs of my wise returning, I got out my pis'ols, rifle, ammunition, and hunting-knife, saddled a young and rathor skittish colt, and bidding the children keep within doors and the houso safely locked, I mounted and rode oil' 10 meet her, which I i expected to do nt ovnry turn of the horse pah. J Hut at every turn 1 was doomed to disuppoint- \ ment and when 1 had pat mile after mile bohiod me without seeing any signs of her 1 becamo more aud more alarmed, and dashed on still faster. •'lt wa3 just about dark when I saw the lights O f c— gleaming in tho distance ; but before I reaohod the town I met my wire hastening homeward—sho having beon unoxpoctcilly dotiiinod by meeting an old acquaintance who had recently come on from tho eastward, aud with whom sheh'ii1 roniiined togathor thonowsand take supper tho tinio passing away so quickly as to render her belated boforo sho was awaro " I was greatly rpjoiccd to find her safo and unharmed—but not a little puzzlod to account for my presentiment of ovll, which appeared to me had taken placo without causo—though in this respect I was greatly mistaken, aa tho sequel will show. '• Wo now sot off at a brisk trot homoward— through a denao, dark gloomy wood, which lined our way on cither side-and had safely proceeded about live miles whon wo were somewhat Btartlo-i by a series of long, plaintive howls, at a considerable distanco and in different directions, and which our experience told us wore wolves, seemingly calling and answoring ouch other through the great forest. '■ Tho wolves of this region were of the larger and fiercer species; and though ordinarily and singly they might not attack a human being, yet in numbers and pressed by hunger, as thoy generally wuro nt this senson of tne year, 1 by no means felt certain that wo should not bo "Accordingly we quickened tho pace of our horses and as wo Hurried on I grew every moment more uneasy and alarmed as I noticed that many of tho Hounds gradually approached us Wo had just outorad a deep hollow, where a few largo trt-cs stretched their branccs over a denso thicket, when suddenly thero arose several loud, harsh, baying and snarling sounds close at h.md. Tho vext moment there was a Quick rustling and thrashing among the bushes; andthoii some aix or eight lar.ee wolves—lean, gaunt and maddened with hunger-sprung into the puth close beside us. " This happeii'ia so suddenly and unexpectedly that my wife gave a slight scream and dropped her rein; aud tho horse, rearing and plunging at thesMnc moment, unseated hir ; and she foil to tho ground, right in the very midst of the savage boasts, whoso glaring tyes Bhone in the darkness like so many coals of flic. " Fortunately her sudden fall startled the wild animals a little, and as they momentarily dr t w back, she. with rare presence of mind, at onco gatheredhcr buffalo robe, which sho had dragged with her in such a munncr about hoi- person as to protect herself from tho first onset of their faius. 'I ho next moment tho ferocious animals, with tho most savage growls, sprung at her, at me and at the two horses slmultaHeoiwly. Hers at once shook himself clear of his foes and tied, and mine began to roar and plunge in such a manner that i could not make uso of a smulo weapon, and only by main strength kept him from running away with me. "It was a terrible moment of exciting agony, aud the instant that 1 could release my feet frcm tho ptirrupß I leaped to tlio ground with a yell— my ride slipping trom my hands, and discharging 1 it-jL-K by the concussion, «nd my Hood rushing liku lightning after I.is flying companion over th» frozen snow. "Luckiiy I had my loaded pistols and my knite convenient to my grasp, and scarcely conscious of what 1 was doing, but thinking only that the dear mother of my little on-js lay fairly beneath three or four of the furiously light ng aud snarling wild beasts. I graspea the weapons, one in oaeh hand, cocked them at I ho same inBtant, and fairly jumping inic '•.« midst of my enemies, placed tho muzzles . ,unnt tho heads of two that had turned to rend me, and fired them hoth togethe--. " Hoth nhotß, thank God! took effect- it could not be otherwise—and as the two wolves rolled howling back in their death agonies, their starving companions smelling and getting a tustoof their blood, and instinc ively comprehending .hat they wero now fairly m thoir power, fell upon them with the most ravenous fury and literally tore them to pieces before my vu y eyes, almost over the boily of my wife, and in 10-e, I should say, ihan a minute of time. '• Ascertaining by a few anxiou* inquiries that my wife was still a'ive and unhilrmoil. I bade her reman quiet, and picking up my rifle,.l proceeded to load all my weapons with the greatest ''■ As soon as t had rammed the first ball homo I felt tempted to shoot ano'hur of tho animais, butatth»tmoni°nt I heard a distant howling and fearing we should booh bo beset by another pack i reserved my ftro for the nextoxtromo dangor ana hurriedly loa'ed the others., "by tho time I hud fairly completed this operation our first asaullants having nearly gorged themselves upon their moro unfortnnato companions began to clink away, but the cries of the others at tho same time growing nearer, wnrnoii me to bo upon my guard. "I had j nst succeeded In getting my wlfo moro securely rolled in hor protecting robe-as tn« safest thing I rould do in that cxtrcmtty-and niysof, pistols in hand, in ti defensive attitudo over her body, when eoino eight or ten moro of tho savage and desperate creii'.uivß mado their appears nco upon tne scene. "There was a momemary pause a9 they camo intoviowanddiscovered me—du'inir which their eyes glared and shone like living coals—and then, with terrific growls and snarls, thoy bogan to circle round ne, each moment narrowing tho space between us. 11 Suddenly one more daring or hungry than the o'hers bounded forward and received a shot from one of my pistols directly between tho eyes, and as he rolled back upon the snow a part of the othors sprang upon him, as in the case of tho " But I had no time toconcratulato myself that I had disposed of him ; for nlmostat tho same moment I felt the lacerating fangs of another in my thigh, which caused mo to shriek with pain ; and my poor wife, with an answering shriCK, believing it was nil over with me, was about to vet up and face tho wont, when, shouting to hor not to stir, that I was still snfo, I placett my pistol againßt the head of in? assailant, and stretched him quivoring on the snow ulso. " I stilt had my ritlo in reserve ; and pointing that at the fighting puck, I poured its contents among thorn. How many we'o wounded I do not know; but almo3t immediately tho space around us boonnie oncp more cloared of our howling enemies—some limping as they tied. and appearing to be harassed by the othrra. "Again it appeared to mo we had met with ia wonderful dolivoranco; and though tho wound n my thigh wai somewhat painful, a brief examination satisfied me that it would not provd serious; and I hastily proceeded to reload my weapons—my wife meaniimo getting upon her feot, embracing me tenderly and earnestly thanking God for our preservation. "' Oh the dear children !' she exclaimed, with maternal tenderness ; 'little do they know how near they have como to b ing mado orphans, and left alono in this solitary wildorness! Let us hasten homo to them. Oh, let us hasten home to them while we have an opportunity." '"We havo no opportunity,'l gloomily replied. ' Hnrk! there arc more of our foes in the distance— do you hear them?' "'Andare they coming this way, too? Bho tremblingly replied. *' *I £c£tl* 8O»* " "Oh gcat "od 1 what will become of us!' sho exclaimed; 'for lam almost certain that we shall not both survive a third attack "'I sea but one way of escape, eaid T anxiously.' ' We mustclimb a tiee, and remain in tho branches till morning.' •"Wo shall surely freeze to death there.she replied. '• 'I trust not; but at all events, as our horses are gone, we havo no alternative. I think your buffalo robe, well wrapped around you, will protect you from the cold, ns it has done from tho wolves ; and as for my .elf, I will endeavour to keep warm by climbing up find down, and stamping upon tho limbs.' •"But why not kindle afire?' she quickly reioincd, hor'voice, suddenly animated with a hope that I was obliged to disappoint. 1. For two reasons.' I replied. " First, because we have not time—do you not hear another hungry pnek howling?—and sccocdly. b=causo wo have not the materials—the loose bush aud sticks being buried under the snow.' " ' God help us then?' groaned my wife; 'there seems nothing for us but death! ()h. my poor dear children I May the good God grant that they be not made orphans this night.' '• I bado her take heart and not; despair ; and then selecting a large tree, whose lower limbs were broad and thick, but above the reach of our enemies. I hastily assisted her to a uopd foothold, and Immediately climbed up after her. " We wero not there a moment t^o soon ; for scaropjy had we got ourselves settlod in a comparatively comfortable position, when another hungry pack of our enemies appeared below us, howling, snarling, and ftßhting-their upturned eyes occasiona'ly glowing fearfully in tho darkBut we were safe from their reach; and all that long, dismal night wo remained there, listening to their discordant tones, and thinking of the dear ones at home. ■ " The night was intonscly cold ; and in spite of all my effort's to keep my sluggish blood in circulation, I becamo so benumbed before morning that I believe I should have given up and perished, except for the pleading voice of my wife, who begged me, for Gnd'ssako, to hold out, and not leave her a widow and my children fatherlese. " Daylight came at last; and never was morn hailed with greater joy. Our foes now slunk away, one by one, and left ub to ourselves : and a few minutes after their disappearance I (got down and exercised myself violently; and having thus broueht back a little warmth to.my system. I assisted my wife to alight, and we at once started homeward. . .' •' I scarcely need add thst we arrived there in dn'e time to find our poor, nigh-long terrified children almost frantic with joy at our safe return." ' '

Why is the \yorljl like i> piano ?—Bepause jt is full of sharps and flats. "Raising the -wind is now galled, more plas<sicalj,v ? 'fExcitfng the financial