Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-12-14

AAAiOo Aohh ouu u1u do tIluCu dS VIC
could do to keep pace with the long
strides of Old Ben, as he led the way
across the lake.
An hour went by and Old Ben assu-
red US that we had got a good four
miles on our journey. All about us
was but ice and sky, except to the
northward, where a long dark line
marked the forest, stretching along the
shore of the lake. Once or twice we
had seen an air hole in the ice, around
which the water lay upon the surface
tor a little distance; but otherwise
than this our foothold was as firm as
the solid earth. These places were ea-
sy enough to be avoided, for we could
see them glittering in the starlight
quite distance away.
All at once the trapper who still
kept in advance, paused and stood in
the attitude of listening. We follow.
ed his example and remained mute
and motionless. Then, though as vet
not sound had met our ears, Old
Ben brought down his rifle upon the
ice and exclaimed in voice that caus-
ed US a thrill Of fear in spite of our
selves:
evolves p
"Where? | hear nothing p | said.
a don't suppose you do, youngster,
but my ears have been trained to catch
the slightest sound. You'll hear them
in a minute. Hark p
This time | too heard sound that
wasn't to be mistaken. A low, lin
gering howl came floating on the
slight breeze, and then died away
The next moment it was renewed by
what seemed from a hundred throats,
coming from the dark forest line to
our left, while a hundred more, or as
many echoes, took it up on the other
side.
"There are lots of the varmints out
tonight" said Old Ben; and | could
not help thinking that there was a
spice of uneasiness in his tone. "a
wolf is cowardly critter and don't
dare to do much unless there is pack
together, and then they are very dey-
lis. l hope they will give US wide
berth tonight, for, to tell the truth,
boys, we should stand a rather poor
sight with them about US and not a
tree to climb into"
'Do you think they will venture on
the ice ?" | asked.
Cant tell, youngster. As l said
afore it will all depend upon how ma
ny there aIO of tho n1iuts. at any
rate think it best that we use our
loSo o.o Eaes rea-;h1n "
Another howl, that in spite OF all
my efforts to the contrary, seemed to
freeze my blood, sounded around US
and then died away, only to be caught
up as it were and repeated over and
over again.
"Come on, boys" exclaimed the
trapper as he struck out at a tall pace
that was initiated as near as possi
BILE by myself.
Half an hour passed and in spite
of our efforts Frank and | could not
keep up the pace assumed by the OLD
trapper, Notwithstanding the bowling
Of the wolves on every hand grew
louder and nearer each moment. Ey
er and anon Old Ben would cast 6
look backward, and even in the din
starlight we could see that the looE
of uneasiness we had seen upon hi'
face had increased rather than dimin
ished.
"Can't We keep up, boys ?" he said
pausing a moment for us to regain hi
side. '1'm sorry for that, for we hav,
got to do some tall walking, or els
be torn to pieces by the devils on ou
trail Hark that cry came from tn
wolves on the ice, and not more thai
mile away at that. Iguess it woulo
have been best for us to have takeI
the landlords advice and stayed wit
him tonight. But if the worst come
to the worst we have got our rifles
and we can give the varmints a goo'
, peppering. only hope the curren
where the river flows into the lake i
J not open, for if it is | am afraid tn
t wolves will cut us off"
) Ben's words had the effect to rous
us to greater exertions, and for tim
: we kept even with him, but in spit
of our utmost exertions the howlin
l of the wolves seemed nearer, and W
< knew that they were on our track an
: gaining slowly upon us. Many ha
ty glance we cast behind us, but in th
a dim twilight nothing was to be seen Q
e our pursuers. A few minutes NOR
d and the east lighted up, and ere Ion
d the moon rose in unclouded splendo
d throwing a food of light over the lax
S One glance backward now and OIL
+ enemies were revealed in close pu
l. suit. A long line of dark moving o
d jects was behind US, and to our no
e ror, stretching out Oh either hand
e the shape. of crescent, as if the gre
IS army of blood-thirsty beasts meant
e encircle US. Away in advance, mill
before us, rose the dim outlines of Il
g forest that clothed the shore, and the
e was our only hope of escape-a fc
le lorn hope indeed.
It. Ours was now race for life;
n, almost hopeless one it seemed to
1t, in spite of the encouraging words
We Old Ben, uttered we knew to give
new strength and courage. Eve
,y muscle was strained to the utmo
a. and we flew over the ice, our ears f
ue ed with the bowling of the hung
ur horde behind us. "A cloud float
lin over the face of the moon, and
W. shadow was thrown over US for a +
ed moments, and the gaze we cast behi
w, showed only a dark moving outline