The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-02-15


must forego hi. accustomed nap, and at
tend more TO keeping OF center Of grs,i3
which was disturbed by the load. Upon
emerging from the little belt Of timber
which skrted the creek, he saw two or
three wolves crossing the bottom, and ere
long their how!s were answered by Others.
both up and down the creek. This dit
hot disturb him, as hardly ight elapse't
tia, they did not keep up their dismal Gen.
cert uutil dawn On SANDY lope. and he
was consolng himself with the ids, that
n savory stake for his supper would be
some recmompense for the trouble il oe-
occassioned him; the twelve miles yet Ia
be accomplished would not occupy over two
hours, then his discomfort would be At "a
end Contrasting the quiet pleasures OF
home with the hardships OF his Professio7
as a country physician he almost la,nen'sd
the change from his limited practice in tho
city, which hardly enabled him 10 support
his family with decency, wi'h the constant
toll required By visits TO distant parts OF
the country that needed his ser, ires.---
These cogitstions occupying his mind
Ne nal n'fk EOtltet inS uHc Sine>S va h'>
horse, in WAS only aware cf It when oil
Sandy contrarf to his usual rra:,ice, broke
from into can'er into run, AS II fright
ened unnotice,. 10y the doctor. Checking
him, he was soon able 10 divine the cause
the isolated we're increase in volume,
and looking back, scarcs a hundred rode
behind him, lie could see the dark out
lines of large pack of wolves in full pur-
suit. For a moment a chill of terror struck
his heart and he nearly fe from his sent.
The .lackened rein laid on the horses
neck, who showed his fear 10y running with
frantic bounds, his heart, beating as tho
it voulI burst the gir'h of the saddle -
As so IN as the mnmentary shock WIS over,
and he had recovered his sef>p.sessi"n.
he knew that at that gai, the horse w"ult
over mark himself before g'ing half
mile, his only chance Of dety being TO
husband his strength, with the almost
hopeless expectation OF reaching the near
est house-se, en- mies of. lie tried To
divest himself of The meat, Tut the knot
which tied it was to extrica,e, and after
two or three vain etfol Ii gave it up
taking his borse in hahi he pull him back
to II comparatively easy stIiis. After
crossing the bottom of the road led ~
the grade of the rolling prairie, aud before
he got to the top Of 'hc hill he con.d hear
the pa;ter of their feet close behind him.
he dared not 70 k back, but sat with his
knees pressed to the saddle, his elbowa
close to his side, his belly leaned little
iorward-lke jockey in the las, few
strides of n hard contested race.
The SUNNI, is gained, and the long in>
spiratio, is token that the horse wss
running easier on the derendlng ground;
the patter Of the feet became more inies-
tuci, and the prolonged howls were chang
ed into short yelps. Agaiu the horse hal
to labor up the hill, the irregular footballs
came nearer, and he could hear the hot
breath as it rushed through the red mouths
of the hungry vermin. Wi:h accelerated
speed the faithful servant struggled on,
but his unsteady motion and ROLLING gai.
! showed the muscl es were firing; shaking
him with the reins, and aninnting hi'a
xith his voice, lie reached the top, the
nearest wolves swapping at his h-els.--
Again they are left behind; can lie only
gain distance enough before reaching Elk
Creek where another hill 'las to he cim>
ed, there may be show vet. is ven-
lures, for the first time since the race be"
gan, to look back they are strung out
for quarter of a mile, he shu'iders Mt tho
parcinacity with which they follow him
no more howIs or yell,, bu. running silent.
lv and steadily on. apparently aware that
the prey would be reached on the next
ascending ground.
lie rises in the stirrups, and prepares
for the leap across the creek, tho water
gIimmerrng il the moonlight like stripe
of silver. Old Sandy makes the attempt,
founders against The opposite bank, and
falls, the Doctor thrown quite clear of him.
Gaining his feet, the horse is running up
the hill, the headmost wolves not n hun.
dred yards eff Fortunately few stunts
ed gparcd oaks are close by he climb.
the nearest, but its branches are only =
few feet from the ground. rerhaps III.
wolves may follow the horse. and hs nay
escape lis vain thought few of tho
leaders run a short distant beyonI-th tho
majority rushing for the tree. Scores of
hungry, lank monsters jumping and snap
ping at him among the branches. A Ixrg.
grey succeede in putting his PAWS on tho
limb he was on, scratching the bark fro:n
tie tree with his hind feet iuhis efforts tn
get up. lie made an unsuccessful at
tempt to unite the knot, think thA, thus
relieved he might get little further from
their swapping JAWS, now in such close
proximity to his person. Slipping his
hand in his pockets for his knife to en-.
the rope, he finds vial. and tie though.
rusbes through bis mind that he is ssv.,l
the vial containing strychpine. lie
takes tout, uncorks it,and pn's it u an out
side pocket oil bis coat; With tie knife
he cuts off email pe;ces Of vcni.on, powders
them with s;rychninc they are swallow
ed before reaching the ground, lhe wolvrs
qnarre'ling aud fighting for possession or
the choice morsel~. Relieved In msa j..
sure from .heir sur' eilance, lie fixes him
self more a,lvautageously on his perch,