, where they made a
temporary halt to view the ample plains and beauteous tracts below. On
the one hand they surveyed the famous Susquehanna, rolling in silent
dignity and marking its course with inconceivable grandeur, while in the
distance the hills lifted their venerable brows.

Here they had paused a few moments to view the beauties of Nature as it
came fresh from the hand of Omnipotence. The sunlight was streaming from
the western skies, kissing each mountain top, clad with crimson and
gold, like the morning light that dances on the heaven-kissed hills of
Paradise. Mayall viewed the scene with unspeakable delight, as he
thought how rich he was in everything that made life desirable to him.
From this lofty eminence over the valley forest he could mark the smoke
curling from his quiet home, where his lovely companion rested. Youth,
beauty, wealth, love, all seemed to be his. All his past life seemed to
pass in grand review. The sun sank in silence toward the horizon, and
called to his mind that the chase was leading them too far from camp to
return before dark.

Before they had time to decide which course to pursue they heard the
deer returning with a gang of wolves close in pursuit, made ravenous by
the scent of the warm blood gushing from the deer's sides at every
bound, in consequence of his wonderful springs to escape the wolves,
which were so near that one miss-jump would have been fatal, as a dozen
wolves were ready to tear his flesh from his bones.

It now became hurrying times. Mayall looked round to find a safe
retreat. The two Indians that had ascended the hill with him were wild
with affright, and beat a hasty retreat. The deer became exhausted in
its exertions to escape, and fell to the ground within two rods of the
place where Mayall stood, and three of the wolves rushed upon him with
open jaws, to devour him. Mayall was just the man for that place; for as
quick as a flash of electricity all his presence of mind returned. The
contents of his gun, with his deadly aim, brought down the first or
foremost to the ground. He dropped his gun and met the second with his
tomahawk, which he dispatched at a blow. The third had then reached him.
He aimed a blow at his head, his weapon glanced, and the wolfs mouth
came in contact with his body and fastened his teeth in his
hunting-frock. At that instant Mayall gave him a thrust with his long
hunting-knife, which he had drawn from his belt with his left hand. The
k