 | A Night with the Wolves. Wild scenes on the frontiers, or, Heroes of the West |  |
28. A Night with the Wolves.
“A Number of years ago,” said an old settler, whom I
met on my western travels, “I 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 neighbor. The country round was mostly forest;
and wild beasts and Indians were so numerous in that
quarter, that my friends at the East, to whom I gave a
description of my locality, expressed great fears for our
safety, and said they should be less surprised to learn of
our having all been cut 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
account—and my wife was as brave as a hunter; but then
we had three children—the oldest only ten—and sometimes,
when I was away from home, the sudden growl of a
bear, the howl of a wolf, or the scream of a panther,
would make me think of them, and feel quite uneasy.
“For a while, at first, the night-screeching and howling
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. Besides, I 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, I had two rather narrow escapes
—once from a 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 a `Night with the Wolves.'
“One bitter cold morning—the ground being deeply
covered with snow, so crusted and frozen 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
purchases to make, which she wished to attend to herself.
Besides being well muffled up in her own clothing, I
wrapped a large buffalo robe around her; and admonishing
her that the woods were full of danger after dark, I
promised to do.
“All day long, after her departure, from some cause for
which I could not 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, I got out my pistols, rifle, ammunition,
and hunting-knife, saddled a young and rather
skittish colt, and bidding the children keep within doors,
and the house safely locked, I mounted and rode off to
meet her, which I 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, without seeing any signs of her, I became more and
more alarmed, and dashed on still faster.
“It was just about dark when I saw the lights of
C***** gleaming in the distance; but before I 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 the news and take
supper—the time passing away so quickly as to render her
belated before she was aware of it.
“I was greatly rejoiced to find her safe and unharmed—
but not a little puzzled to account for my presentiment of
cause—though in this respect I was greatly mistaken, as
the sequel will show.
“We now set off at a brisk trot homeward—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 experience told us were wolves,
seemingly calling and answering each other through the
great forest.
The 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 they generally were at this season of the year, I
by no means felt certain that we should not be molested.
“Accordingly we quickened the pace of our horses;
and as we hurried on, I grew every moment more uneasy
and alarmed, as I noticed that many of the sounds gradually
approached us. We had just entered a deep hollow,
where a 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 a quick rustling and thrashing
among the bushes; and then some six or eight large
into the path close beside us.
“This happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, that my
wife gave a 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 shone in the darkness
like so many coals of fire.
“Fortunately, her sudden fall startled the wild animals
a 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 ferocious animals, with the
most savage growls, sprung at her, at me, and at the two
horses simultaneously. Her's at once shook himself clear
of his foes and fled; and mine began to rear and plunge
in such a manner that I could not make use of a single
weapon, and only by main strength keep him from running
away with me.
It was a terrible moment of exciting agony; and the
instant that I could release my feet from the stirrups, I
leaped to the ground with a yell—my rifle slipping from
my hands and discharging itself by the concussion, and
my steed rushing like lightning after his flying companion
over the frozen snow.
“Luckily, I had my loaded pistols and my knife convenient
to my grasp; and searcely conscious of what I was
doing, but thinking only that the dear mother of my little
ones lay fairly beneath some three or four of the furiously
fighting and snarling wild beasts, I grasped the weapons,
one in each hand, cocked them 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 howlingly back
in their death agonies, their starving companions, smelling
and getting a taste of their blood, and instinctively comprehending
that they were now fairly in their power, fell
upon them with the most ravenous fury, and literally tore
them to pieces, and devoured them before my very eyes,
almost over the body of my wife, and in less, I should say,
than a minute of time.
“Ascertaining, by a few anxious inquiries, that my wife
was still alive and unharmed, I bade her remain quiet; and
picking up my rifle, I proceeded to load all my weapons
with the greatest dispatch.
“As soon as I had rammed the first ball home, I felt
tempted to shoot another of the animals; but at that
moment I heard a distant howling; and fearing we should
next extreme danger, and hurriedly loaded the others.
“By the time I had fairly completed this operation, our
first assailants, having nearly gorged themselves upon their
more unfortunate companions, began to slink away; but
the cries of the others at the same time growing nearer,
warned me to be upon my guard.
“I had just succeeded in getting my wife more securely
rolled in her protecting robe, as the safest thing I could do
in that extremity—and myself, pistols in hand, in a defensive
attitude over her prostrate 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 coals—and then, with terrific growls and
snarls they began to circle round me, each moment narrowing
the space between us.
“Suddenly one, more daring or hungry than the others,
bounded forward, and received a shot from one of my pistols
directly between his eyes; and, as he rolled back upon
the snow, a part of the others sprung upon him, as in the
case of the first.
“But I had no time to congratulate myself that I had
disposed of him; for almost at the same instant I felt the
lacerating fangs of another in my thigh, which caused me
shriek, believing it was all over with me, was about to get
up and face the worst; but shouting to her not to stir, that
I was still safe, I placed my pistol against the head of my
assailant, and stretched him quivering upon the snow also.
“I still had my rifle in reserve; and pointing that at the
fighting pack, I poured its contents among them. How
many were wounded I do not know; but almost immediately
the space around us became once more cleared of
our howling enemies—some limping as they fled, and appearing
to be harassed by the others.
“Again it appeared to me we had met with a wonderful
deliverance; and though the wound in my thigh
was somewhat painful, a brief examination satisfied me
that it would not prove serious; and I hastily proceeded
to reload my weapons—my wife meantime getting upon
her feet, 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
come to being made orphans, and left alone in this solitary
wilderness! Let us hasten home to them! Oh, let us
hasten home to them, while we have an opportunity!'
“ `We have no opportunity,' I gloomily replied. `Hark!'
there are more of our foes in the distance—do you not
hear them?'
“ `And are they coming this way, too?' she tremblingly
inquired.
“ `I fear so.'
“ `Oh, great God! what then will become of us!' she
exclaimed; `for I am almost certain that we shall not both
survive a third attack.'
“ `I see but one way of escape,' said I, anxiously. `We
must climb a tree, and remain in the branches till morning.'
“ `We shall surely freeze to death there!' she replied.
“ `I trust not; but at all events, as our horses are gone,
we have no alternative. I think your buffalo robe, well
wrapped around, will protect you from the cold, as it has
done from the wolves; and as for myself, I will endeavor
to keep warm by climbing up and down, and stamping
upon the limbs.'
“ `But why not kindle a fire?' she quickly rejoined, her
voice suddenly animated with a hope that I was obliged to
disappoint.
“ `For two reasons,' I replied. `First, because we have
not time—do you not hear another hungry pack howling?
—and secondly, because we have not the materials—the
loose brush and sticks being buried under the snow.'
“ `God help us, then!' groaned my wife; `there seems
nothing for us but death! Oh, my poor, dear children!
May the good God grant that they be not made orphans
this night!'
“I bade 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 good foothold, and immediately climbed
up after her.
“We were not there a moment too soon; for scarcely
had we got ourselves settled in a comparatively comfortable
position, when another hungry pack of our enemies
appeared below us—howling, snarling, and fighting—
their up-turned eyes occasionally glowing fearfully in the
darkness.
“But we were safe from their reach; and all that long,
dismal night we remained there, listening to their discordant
tones, and thinking of the dear ones at home.
“The night was intensely cold; and in spite of all my
efforts to keep my sluggish blood in circulation, I became
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 God's sake, to hold out, and not
leave her a widow and my children fatherless.
“Daylight came at last; and never was morning hailed
with greater joy. Our foes now slunk away, one by one,
and left us to ourselves; and a few minutes after their
disappearance, I got down and exercised myself violently;
and having thus brought back a little warmth to my
started homeward.
“I scarcely need add that we arrived there in due time,
to find our poor, night-long terrified children almost frantic
with joy at our safe return.”
| A Night with the Wolves. Wild scenes on the frontiers, or, Heroes of the West | |