The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-08
A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.

A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.
AWAY we went at whirlwind speed
over the glistening sheet of snow which
covered the whole country for miles
around.
Four splendid horses drew our sledge,
and we bounded along noiselessly,
smoothly, rapidly, like phantoms. We
had some thirty miles to travel; but at
the glorious pace we were going, we
should accomplish it in three hours. 1t
was now eight o'clock; we might fairly
expect to be ut my chateau by little past
eleven.
Away we went! the snow flew past
US like a vast foaming torrent, while /
could almost fancy that we were Mt rest, /,
80 even, almost imperceptible, was our
motion.
Suddenly one of the traces gave way,
and in an instant all our four horses,
young and high-spirited, were kicking
and plunging fearfully. The broken
trace was only the least Of the damage
done; and when and Fritz, my SER
want, scrambled out, and seizing their
heads, stopped their pranks, we found
that they had kicked themselves almost
entirely free from the sledge.
Had they but done so, and remember
ing what afterward occurred, think of
the terrible consequences and tremble.
1t took us full hours work to re-
pair the damage, and even when this
was done, we were compelled to go at a
comparatively slow pace, for fear that
something should again give way.
lighted cigar, and, we'll wrapped
In furs and cloaks, leaned lazily and
luxuriously back, enjoying the gentle,
easy motion, and watching the four
horses as they bounded along with the
light sledge.
On sudden, however, noticed that
they seemed to afford Fritz more than
ordinary trouble.
was aroused from my half dreamy
state by hearing him devote them to
the internal gods, in all the mingled di-
alects Of Poland, Germany, and Russia,
and that for cause which seldom at
CtCho thS vi tiC tiiN
namely, for going too fast.
In spite of his exertions they had
burst into furious gallop. He cursed,
swore, pulled, and tugged in vain.
With alarmed eyes and erected ears the
eager horses disregarded the utmost eff
forts Of curb and bride, and dragged us
forward with a velocity l should have
thought impossible. AS there was no
danger, l was rather amused than other
wise by the glorious pace at which we
s were going.
All on sudden, however, Fritz ceas-
ed to swear, and, with hasty ejacula-
tiOn, lOosened the reins, and allowed the
horses to tear ahead ut their utmost
speed, without attempting to stop them.
The beasts arc right, right, by thous'
md devils! ought to have known it ~
"What do you meanf" asked.
He turned in his seat, and said in a
low voice, his face pale with emotion:
"The wolvesw
stood up in the sledge and looked
back, but for long time could discover
nothing.
At last, however, / could discern g
dark mass in the snow at agreat distance
thought, however, that it was only
trees, and laughed at the terror of Fritz
which even the horses seemed to share
In about ten minutes, however, the
terrible truth burst on me-the dark
mass was in motion, and approached
rapidly. / heard, too, sound in the
distance which ut first | thought was
the whistling of the wind.
1t was the bowling of the hungry and
ferocious pack Of wolves on our track
Closer and closer came the dark mass
palmer and palmer the dreadful howls
The terrified horses could hear then
now, and dashed on with more desper
ate energy than before.
Nearer and nearer they came. W.
could not only hear their dreadful howls
but even the tramp of their cursed feet
as they galloped along the frozen snow
on our track. The arms we had con
sisted Of two fowling pieces and brac
OF pistols. Unfortunately, we had bu
a very scanty stock OF powdcaSvad Dali
and not more than enough O. two o
three discharges.
"What is to be done?" whispere,
to Fritz.
"Fight! fight to the last!" he re
piled; "we must be overtaken. Th
horses cannot hold out much longer.
is yet quite twenty miles to the chateal
and they will be upon us in a few min
utes. Ha" he cried, suddenly, " ha
forgotten-there is yet a gleam of hope !!
And now he lashed the horses, alread
at their utmost speed, and even Stable
them repeatedly with his hunting-knift
TO urge them on to fresh exertions.
Ahead of us was a small forest, {
rather wood. 1t was distant some tw
miles, but, owing to the white sheet {
snow between, looked much nearer,