Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-01-03

soon lgnlted, and not a bit to-
soon. The wolves had drawn s,
near that we could hear then
snarling as they hustled one anoth
er. But my work was nearly
done; the horses were fastened
strongly to the trees, and Ivan as
sisted me in lifting the wood. f-.
When once the road was clear
we started; my wife had given
Ivan a bottle Of brandy, and put
another ON my, seat; and much
we needed it, for the cold was in
tense. Before long the driver
told me that one of the horses was
lame; could not keep up with the
others. AS our speed diminished,
our enemies crept nearer. !
thought of the mask. L had
kicked it under the seat, and IRE
membered the old school-boy dodge
of cutting out a turnip and fright
ening ones friend by putting a
light within it. My little lantern
would be the very thing. I fast
ened it into the mask, and waited
till the wolves drew near, then
threw it in front of them. The
half-starved brutes were startled;
they could not make it out. The
mask had fortunately fallen so
that the light shone through the
eyes and mouth, and / saw them
stop; the foremost went up to it,
but seemed afraid to touch it
But the wolves in the rear were
and pushed the others
on; one fell upon the mask, and
evidently crushed the lantern, for
the light went out, and again the
wretches were in pursuit. fa.
"We cannot besaved," "said Ivan
at length, "unless you can think
Of something else" ''...
eff | had but a rope" I shout
ed, 81 might do something"
''Then catch this he answered,
md threw good sized piece over
he top of the carriage: 81 brought
t in case the harness broke"
L pulled off my long boot, which
was lined with sheep-skin, with a
oand of fur round the top, and
prayed, as | fastened the rope Sc
,urely round the instep, that our
lungry foes might mistake it for a
rap. / then threw it over, and |
lad the pleasure of seeingit bump |
most satisfactorily along, the
wolves keeping at a respectful dis
ance. This continued for min |
lte or two, and then ourlame horse
ell. 4.r 4ral
"We must leave him." cried
van, jumping down as he spoke; |
nd | followed his example, cut
ing the harness with our knives.
"Have your pistols ready" said |
he Russian, "whilst | fasten the
races-the wolves are upon u.s."
And SO it was. My boot no
onger served to- frighten them.
t now lay quieton the snow; and
had just time to turn and shoot
he foremost as he was making a
pring. e.
'.Mountr' shouted our driver,
nd | sprang on to- the step, man
ging to shoot an immense wolf
Who was rushing at one of the
lorses. seed ~ i |
"We are free now" said to
van; "the wolves will surely re-
nain with the lame horse" |
eyes, / think we are" he an
wered; "but load your pistols; if
We do not reach the post-house be-
ore they overtake U.S., we shall
md them more savage than ever;
hat poor brute viii not be a mouth
al for each of them" ~ II
But at the edge of the wood we
aw the walls of the post-house,
ust as the pack rushed into the
Fighter light. They felt they
Iere foiled, and shrank away,
owling dismally., AS to the la
ies,, they were more dead than
live when we helped them out of
hecarriage, and we all agreed that.
re must take an hours rest before
7e started. -....-t
AS we reached the frontier an
ther doubt arose. Our passports
'ere en- regle, but, ], only had them
,r my wife, myself, and one Of
~ daughters. They had been
lade out when we talked Of join
lg my eldest daughter and her
usband in Paris, and they were
kelly to be Of service; but how !