EVAN COGSWELIL’S ICE FORT.

distant points in the woods and from across the river.
By this time it was becoming quite dark, the moon-
light penetrating the forest only along the roadway
and in occasional patches among the trees on either
side. The rushing river was not far away, but above
its roar arose every instant the threatening howl of a
wolf. Finally, just as he reached
the ice-bridge, the howling became
still, a sign that their numbers em-
boldened them to enter in earnest
on the pursuit. The species of wolf
once so common in the central
States, and making the early farm-
ers so much trouble, were peculiar
‘in this respect; they were great
cowards singly, and would trail the
heels of a traveller howling for re
cruits, and not daring to begin the
attack until they had collected a
force that insured success; then
they became fierce and bold, and
more to be dreaded than any other
animal of the wilderness. And at
this point, when they considered
their numbers equal to the occasion,
the howling ceased..

Evan had been told of this, and
when the silence began, he knew its
meaning, and his heart shuddered at the prospect.
His only hope lay in the possibility that they might
not dare to follow him across the ice-bridge. But
this hope vanished as he approached the other shore,
and saw by the moonlight several of the gaunt crea-
tures awaiting him on that side. What should he do?
No doubt they would soon muster boldness to follow
him upon the ice, and then his fate would be sealed
in a moment.

In the emergency he thought of the axes, and
taking them from his neck, cut the cord, and thrust
his walking-stick into one as a helve, resolved to
defend himself to the last.

At this instant he espied among the thick,
upheaved ice-cakes two great fragments leaning
against each other in such a way as to form a
roof with something like a small room underneath.
Here he saw his only chance. Springing within, he
used the axe to chip off other fragments with which
to close up the entrance, and almost quicker than
it can be told, had thus constructed a sort of fort,
which he believed would withstand the attack of

 
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  

227

“ the wolves. At nightfall the weather had become
colder, and he knew that in a few minutes the damp
pieces of ice would be firmly cemented together.

Hardly had he lifted the last piece to its place,
when the pack came rushing about him, snapping
and snarling, but at first not testing the strength

of his intrench-
ment. When soon
they began to
spring against it,
and snap at the
corners of ice, the
frost had done its
work, and they
could not loosen
his hastily built
wall.

Through narrow
crevices he could
look out at them,
and at one time

HOMEWARD.— SAFELY INTRENCHED.

counted sixteen grouped together in council. As the
cold increased he had to keep in motion in order
not to freeze, and any extra action on his part
increased the fierceness of the wolves. At times they
would gather in a circle around him, and after sniff-
ing at him eagerly, set up a doleful howling, as if
deploring the excellent supper they had lost.