The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-05-16

only equaled by their cowardice- Skat
ing, solitary. and at night, on one of the
great rivers, he says:
All of q sudde sound arose; it seem
ed from the very ice beresth my feet
1t was loud and tremendous at first, un-
til it ended in a long yell. l was appal-
led. Never before had such sound
met my ear 1 thought it more than
mortal-so fierce, and amid such an un-
broken solitude, that it seemed fiend
from hell had blown blast from the in
fernal trumpet. Presently heard the
twiggs on the shore snap as if from the
tread Of some animal, and the blood
rushed back to my forehead with bound
that made my skin burn. My energies
returned, and looked around me for
some means of defense
The moon shone through the opening
by which had entered the forest, and,
considering this the best means of es-
cape, darted toward it like an arrow.
1t was hardly hundred yards distant,
and the swallow could scarcely outstrip
my desperate flight; yet, as l turned
my eyes to the shore, 1 could see two
dark objects dashing through the under
bush at pace nearly double mine. By
their great speed, and the short yells
which they occasionally gave, l knew At
once that they were the much dreaded
gray wolf. .3
The bushes that skirted the shore, flew
past with thevelocity Of light, as dash
ed on in my flight. The outlet was
nearly gained one second more and
should be comparatively safe-when my
pursuers appeared ON the bank directly
above me, which rose to the height of
some ten feet
There was no time for thought; bent
my head, and dashed wildly forward
The wolves sprang; but miscalculating
my speed, sprang behind, whilst their
intended prey glided ont into the river.
Nature turned me toward home. The
light flakes of snow spun from the iron
of my skates, and I was now some dis
tance from my pursuers, when their
fierce howl told me that was again the
fugitive. did not look back; I did not
m feel sorry or glad ; one they sho2s4t sf home,
if they should never see ne. again, and
then my energy Of body and mind was
exerted for my escape.
l was perfectly at home on the ice.
Many were the days I spent on the
skates, never thinking that at one time
they would be my only means of safety.
Every half minute an alternate yelp
from my pursuers made me but too cer-
tain they were close ut my heels. Near
er and nearer they came; l heard their
feet pattering on the ice nearer still, un-
til l fancied l could hear their deep
breathing.
Every nerve and muscle in my frame
was stretched to the utmost tension. The
trees along the shore seemed to dance in
the uncertain light; and my brain turn
ed with my own b-eathless speed, when
an involuntary motion turned me out of
my course.
The wolves, close behind unable to
stop, and as unable to turn, slipped, fell
still going on far ahead, their tongues
lolling out, their white tusks cleaning
from their bloody mouths, their dark.
shaggy breasts freckled with foam; and
as they passed me, their eyes glared, and
they howled with rage and fury. The
thought flashed on my mind that by this
means could avoid them-viz: by
turning aside whenever they came too
near; for they, by the formation of their
feet, are unable to run on ice except in
right line, 1 imm ediately acted on this
plan.
The wolves having regained their feet
sprang toward me. The race was re-
newed for twenty yards up the stream
they were already close on my back,
when giided round, and dashed past
them. A fierce howl greeted my evolu
ton, and the wolves slipped npon their
launches, and sailed onward, presenting
a perfect picture of hclplessness and baf-
fed rage.
Thus gained nearly hundred yards
each turning This was repeated two
or three times, every moment the wolves
getting more excited and bafHed, until,
coming opposite the house, couple Of
stag hounds, aroused by the noise, bay
ed furiously from their kennels. The
wolves, taking the hint, stopped in their
mad career; and, after a moments con-
sideration, turned and fed. l watched
them till their dusky forms disappeared
over neighboring hill, then. taking of
my skates, 1 wended my way to the
house sEHa&H < NNoHEE8za
i The Central Educational Committee
has determined to hold four Normal In
stitutes. du.ino the Summer. in different