Polynesian., 1857-01-31

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4 state of readiness, whilst the horses were doin,
thelr best 10 escape from our pursuers. Then tn
rushlng, snniiilng and painting drew nearer again
the dark mass came on with wonderful speed ant
soon perceived that few Of the creatures haC
outrun the others, and were approaching, will
their gaping Jaws extended, towards us. 4 seconC
ball struck the most daring of them TO the ground
| hoped by this gain to gain time: boaed that
favored by the frequent stopping the beasts ovel
their dead comrades, we might be able to Gain the
outside OF the forest and perhaps some human
dwelling. But how vain were nv calculations
This time they did not remain nearly so long with
their dead companion with thefirSt had scarce
ly time to reload before they were after us aqain.
| . Is all Of no USE" whispered R0sko IN mo
1.-THE horses cannot last much longer, and then wc
are lost.''
And it is true that by this time there was a visi-
bic decrease in the strength Of cur horses their
breathing became an anxious gaspinc and their
pace unsteady They did their best, for thew knew
that the bloodthirsty destroycrs were at our heels
and that only speed could save Us but their DOW
ers were becoming more and more exhausted Often
had one or the other already fallen on its knees
and then sprung up again with desperate eff ,rt
We were, indeed, in fearful situation; I trem-
bled for Axinia S life, not for M own. Nv halls
brought down few more Of our pursuers. but that
no longer disturbed them in their chase They
were now close behind US; their heavy breathjn,,
was more distinctly heard. | could 80. thoir r-,r-
ing Jaws with the rows Of ightiu teeth, and their
tongucs hanging out; and | could see their say
age, fiery eyes And what multitude was there
Iol them Ny last charge was expended, and now
possessed no means Of defence against an attack of
the furious animals except nv two ristoIs. which
had not yet been fired off, my hunting-knif,. and
the butt end of my rife. This Rosko had re-
marked.
There is still one hope left. -" said he; 81 re-
member to have seen on our way here an unjnbub.
tied hunters hut, which cannot now be far off. If
We can succeed In reaching it we are safe for the
present; if not, the wolves will tear rs to riac,s
and relieve their fierce hunger with our flesh. II
1t comes to that, SIR continued he, with tren-
bling voice, g then-you have still the loaded pis
tols-then be compassionate, and give your sister
speedy death, that she may not die bv inches un-
der the teeth of the wolves. y
stared in speechless silence ar the old man .
tear ran down his check; without SPEAKING he
looked at me and nodded his head, as if bv that
means to add force to what he had said. Never
shall forget that moment. \ shudder ran tbroucb
my veins; looked into tie innocent face Of nv
eister; ; l turned my eyes in desperation towards
heaven; ; 1t seemed to me that deliyerance ought to
come, and must come, from above to that pure and
plouS being, who forgot all hcI earthly dangers in
her resignation to the will Of the Almighty. Then
the parting and trampliug came closer 10 Us and
saw that the foremost OF the creatures had reach
ed u.s. and that they seemed to be suclinr our car
rlage, as II they wished first u see Of what the
freight consisted before thew made the atf,cL,
With my left hand | seized the rcady-cocked pis-
tol, and with a searching glance | looked at the
head OF my sister in order to select that part where
death would reach her the surest and quickest
My right band had mechanically drawn nv hunt
lng-knife y veil Of blood appeared to be drawn
over my sight, and through the blood beheld the
praying Axinih, the hungry wolves and the wide
waste of snow. Then one Of the creatures cot
nearer to our sleigh; it gave frightlul spring to
clear its side, but my hunting-knife caught 1t in
the flank as it sTrang, and it Tell dead before it
reached US. Axinia had sunk in terror by the side
of the lady y's-maid, who had long since been cow
ering in the bottom of the sleigh
''Nell done :" cried Rosk0 to me-, with all the
spirit Of young man. Spare YOUR powder ana
use your knife. | can sec the hut now. Hold out
only little longer and then we shall be secure
Then the bloody veil fell from before nv ewes. and
it became again light within meand around Ros-
k0 1ngged the horses numerically, and once more
the faithful beasts made incredible excrtions: it
seemed if they felt that this was the last niece
of service they should ever render their masters
and were therefore willing to put forth their last
strength. In the meantime | had rat the pistol
in nv breast pocket, and stood upright, with the
gunstock held up in my hand ready t. strike.
Whether it Was that this threatening attitude made
an impression on our pursuers. or whether the ac-
celebrated speed of our horses was the cause | know
not but So Il was that began to leave the say
age monsters little behind. and we gained SLIGHT
hut in our situation invaluable advantage over
them. | looked around me there stood the hut
the door was open; and Rosko gave a cry of Joy
as with his powerful hand he drew up the horses,
and then sprang from his seat, saying " We are
here-we are here Quickly out, and into the
hut. there's not moment to be lost,' But al
ready had AxInia, with wonderful energy, sprung
out of the sleigh and into the hut Rosk0 followed
her. carving the flinting lady s-maid ! was the
last. As was going in the old man snatched the
Gun out of my hand and rashed out again. look
ed after him in aStOuishmnnt. | suw that tic
wolves were coming up in enormous numbers, and
knew that they would be up with us in a minute
or two | called after him to come back. but his
work was already done: with two cuts of the whip
he had set the horses off again into full gallop,
and had got back again just as two of the savage
beasts made spring towards the hut. With two
blows of the butt end Of the gun he struck them
both down, and then was by my side again; and
Just as the foremost of the pack reached the hut
and would have pressed in, we rushed To the strong
oaken door and bolted it with an iron bolt, which
provIdenrially we found still there.
should in vain cndcavor to describe the feelings
7 experienced at that moment Many years have
passed away since that tlme-I have gone through
much that was calculated to try the soul but new
er had feelings equal to these. The purcst joy
at the deliveraTce Of my sister took possession Of
me. and with it the feeling that | had sinned
against the greatness and goodness Of the Almighty
| felt the utmost contritiOn | dared not speak to
Axinia, whose confidence in heaven had never for
one moment forsaken her, and who at this moment
and with a steady voice was Offering thanks for her
mcrcirul deliyerance. The snufiiing and rattlngol
the wolves at the door reused me from the tram OF
thought into which had fallen RoSko ha1 had
the nresence of mind when he ran back to set the
horses off, aud thereby give them the chance OF
sarinr themsalyes. u snatch the lantern from the