The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-06-19
VoL.Iv.

dTHl 3 lCuStus llc Idu ldtCIltI VI, WHICH
he carried on these occasions, 10 choI
frozen fish; he felt for it and grasped j
in his hand, but forbore to use it, for tn,
closer the wolves kept to the back o
the sled, the less were they seen b,
the horse. Every minute, however
one or more of them broke out Of thu
track in the attempt to pass; and al
though they instantly lost footing ir
the snow, yet the unbiinded eyes o
the little animal had caught sight o
the dreaded foe, and afpluDgea forward
made Mart turn his eyes with anxiety
to see that it kept straight in the narrow
track. @A3 i sd Hlssi 0o8.1I q
One of the wolves was more than
usually huge and long.limbed, and more
than once it had contrIved, in spite O
the deep snow, to advance nearer a
breast Of the sled than his companions.
Upon this grim creature Mart more es.
pecially kept his watch, and caught the
ereenalight that played from its eye.
balls. 1t turned off again--the snow
laid lighter for a space-the wolf kept
his %footing--it galned-for the pace is
enormous-the little horse's eyes lared
round it. Mart withdrewhis hand wet
with the animals perspiration-the vol
was just beyond arms length, but he
kept his Ratchet in readiness. The
horse was on a desperate gallop, and
the wolf just abreast--it suddenly turn.
ed sharp towards it; now was Mart's
time. He dealt a tremendous blow
the wolf avoided it, but stumbled in the
snow, and in a few minutes was yards
behind. -I,a asa
The distance from home was now
quickly shortening beneath the horses
feet, which continued to carry the sled
at full gallop. till the fear of an overturn
became the source Of a fresh anxiety.
Mart was quite aware by this time,
that these were no common lazy wolves
he had 10 deal with, but sharp.set de-
terniined brutes, to whom man or beast
would be alike welcome. These were
not the animals to be deferred by the
sight Of mans dwelling, as is usually
the case; and there was an ugly werst
Of wide and open space between the
outskirts Of the forest and his house,
which he looked to with real a~pprehen-
sion. d@"i'eH d II 4lG .5s 3
They were now at the edge of the
wood the road became opener-the
wolves gained on every side; the horse
bounded luriously forward, caught the
sled agains. the stump of a tree-it
overturned and was swept away at a
tremendous pace, and Mart was left
alone in the snow. In a moment a
claw slit the throat and down the front
Of his sheep skin-it was well Amos
wrappers lay so thick beneath. He
threw off the brute and rose--his hatch.
ct had been jerked out of his hand IN
the fall-he caste a desperate glance
around but saw it not. Two Of the
wolves were close 10 the defenceless
man, and, the two others, deserving the
animal. were bounding back 10 him.
Mart faced the foremost--he could do
no more, and in an instant was sur
rounded.
Here we must leave him, no viewer
cruel it may seem. Meanwhile the
women were as usual a~nxiously
expecting him home--for Mart was
ate. Ammo was sitting beneath the
pine wood candle at the spinning wheel.
Liso had risen from hers and gone into
The smaller chamber, especially devoted
her. Old Karria Pois was lying be-
ore the stove fast asleep.
On a sudden the dog pricked his ears,
istened, rose, ran to the door and whin-
ID, and then returned to Ammo, wagged
lis tail andran back, and whining again
scratched at the door. ,Karria Pols
gave signal Of Mart's approach,
not in so urgent a way, and
ammo opened the door, expecting to
lee her husband. $3.50
The dog dashed out, but no sign Of
Mart appeared. The young wife went
,ut inaths piercing air, saw and heard
and was slowly returning in,
when a sound caught her cart was
he sound ofhoofs striking full and sharp
lpon the ground. So had Mart never
approached before. But there was no
line for wonder, for the next moment
he horse galloped up to the door and
Ammo saw Instantly thai
omething had happened; the animal
vas dripping with foam and trembling
over. the sled vas reversed, and
.bove. all, Mart was not there.
Ammo was but the girl still; she call
d to her grandmother; but the old
woman did not answer; she flew into
ne inner room. Liso was standing
lotioniess with her face turned from {