Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-10-07
Wolves on the Track.

i
the fall Of avalanches from crag to crag
in the mountains. But now, all on a
sudden, she remarked that her father
bad several times turned his head to look
and tha! bis face wore a troubled express
sion. "What is it father?" she asked,
"is there anything the matter?"
Nothing, nothing" he, answered, in a
short, stern manner, not at all usual 70
him-"I hope nothing; )" and then mur>
INJURED to himself, in lower tone "God
grant it may be nothing"
Her uneasiness by no means Iessened,
but, understanding he did not wish TO be
questioned. she remained silent, but with
her attention on the alert to discover the
cause for anxiety. The dull noise in the
rear certainly increased, and was heard
at ftful intervals, now almost swelling
into a note, then dying away, and was
decidedly nearer than when first she had
remarked it. The horses too, seemed,
by some wonderful instinct to partake Of
her fathers uneasiness. Just then the
noise began afresh and now an unmistak-
able howl sent a flash of certainty into
her mind. Unable longer to bear the
suspense, she balf rose, and gasped out.
20 father, is its it the wolves ?"
"They are long way behind" said
Andreas 1--WE shall reach home well,
never fear"
But the farmers face contradicted his
cheerful words, and, with sinking of
heart as if its action bad been stopped
and then tumultuous rush of blood
through her veins, Ella sank back upon
her seat 1t was fearful revulsion oil
feeling to be thus suddenly torn from a
state of dreamy reverie, and brought face
to face with a great danger. The faint
ing sensation was over directly, and, Gloss
ing her eyes for a moment, and murmur-
ing a heartfelt prayer her natural cour-
age returned. Ella had till then only
seen dead wolves, the trophies of the
chase, and once or twice one securely /
muzzled on its way to some foreign mem
agerie but too many dreadful wolf sto-
ries are current round Norwegian hearths
in the winter for her not to divine the
greatness of the peril, and she tried to
calculate their probable distance from
home, and the chances of escape.
Frau Ingeborg next heard the howl,
and asked the same terrified question as
her daughter. 20 God, my poor chill.
dren !" was her only exclamation; and
then she too, was calm and still. Near
er, nearer is the howling--faster 90 the
terrified horses their instinct has told
them the danger. Ella gently disengaged
herself from the sleeping Olaf, and un-
hidden, gets out the rifle and powder
flask, and in silence looks to the loading.
Andreas's eye falls on her; he is at that
moment pleased to see the fruit of the
he has given his child, in her
pale, composed face and steady hand,
like brave Morse maiden as she was.
Her eyes are now strained to look as far
as she can. Ere long on the brow of
bill they descended, she sees a black NOV
ing mass against the sky. II see them
father, but they are far off yet"
A groan escapes from Andreas. "God +,
help US then y he mutters. Wife and ,
daughter read his face, and from their =.
hearts, too, goes up that agonized prayer. =,
Ali we'll they may pray it. On came ;
he pack, some half hundred gaunt, hun
cry wolves, their dismal howl freezing -.
he life blood oftbe Jansens. The horses
bound ouwards with ID nostrils and :,
painting sides they go like the wind but !,
he distance is steadily diminished. And ;,
he howl of the wolves sounds like a
hooking demon cry, "Ha, ha ye go fast, .
We go faster ye are few, we are many
t is our turn now; ye are the hunted, :,
We the hunters. Ha, ha how like ye the
hange ?"
"Would il not be possible" said Ella, a
SO take refuge in one of these chalets b
Gould we not barricade ourselves there ?" e,
at would be only quicker death the m
wolves would soon force the door: there =,
would be o fastenings o f sufficient h,
trength TO resist them" =,
They looked above, around-neither =,
elp nor hope was to be seen; the pitt r.
ass earth was wrapped in one vast wind e.
ng sheet of snow, and the cold glauciug cl
ghts in the sky revealed only too clear
? their desperate condition. A cold Il;
amp stands on the farmers brow; still
e guides his horses with firm baud, b,
peaks encouragingly to them, a IA
hough he, knowing the peril best has
iyen up hope first, be relaxes no effort. q,
: L : a n