Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-05-08
a Man Chased by Wolves.

7
! All of a sudden a sound arose it
seemed from the very ice beneath my
my feet. 1t was loud and tremendous
and ended in a long yell. 1 was ap-
| palled. Never before had such a
noise met my ear. thought it more
than mortal-so fierce, and such un-
broken solitude, that it seemed fiend
| from hell had blown blast from an
internal trumpet. Presently | heard
the twigs of 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 Ny
energies returned, and looked around
me for some means of defense.
The moon shown through the open
ing by which had entered the forest,
and, considering this the best means
of escape, darted toward it like an
arrow. 1t was hardly hundred yards
distant, and the swallow could scarce
ly outstrip my desperate flight; vet,
| as | turned my eyes to the shore.
could see two dark objects dashing
through the underbrush at pace near
ly double mine. BY their great speed
and the short yells which they occa-
sionally gave, | knew at once they
were the much-dreaded gray wolf.
The bushes that skirted the shore,
flew past with the velocity of light as
| dashed on my flight. The outlet
was nearly gained; one second more
aud | should be comparatively safe
when ny Iursucrs appeared on the
bank directly above nae, which rose to
the height of some ten feet.
There was no time for thought ]
bent my head and dashed wildly for
ward. The wolves sprang, but, mis-
calculating my speed, sprang behind.
whilst their intended prey glided out
into the river.
Nature turned me toward home
The light flakes of snow spun from the
iron of my skates, and l was now
some distance from my pursuers, when
their fierce howl told me that was
the fugitive. | did not look back !
did not feel sorry or glad; one thought
of home, of the bright faces awaiting
my return, if they should never see
me 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 | spent on the
skates, never thinking tnat at one
time they would be nv only means of
safety. Every half minute an alter
nate yclp from my pursuers made me
but too certain they were close at my
heels. Nearer and nearer they came ::
| heard their feet patterirg on the ice
nearer still, until ] fancied | 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 brains turned with my own
breathicss, WIN an involuntary mo-
tion turned me ,ut Of my course.
The wolves, close behind, unable to
stop, and as unable to turn, slipped,
fell-stiIl 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 ann fury. The thought flash
cd on my mind thai 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 a right line. | Immediately acted
on this plan.
The wolves, having regaincd their
feet, sprang toward me.
The race was renewed for twenty
yards up the stream. They were al
ready close on my back, when glidcd
around and dashed past them. a
fierce howl greeted my evolution, and
the wolves slipped upon their haunch-
es and sailed onward, presenting per
feet picture of helplessness and baf-
fled rage.
Thus | gained nearly hundred
yards each turning. This was repeat
ed two or three times, every moment
the wolves getting more excited and
baffled, until. coming opposite the
house. couple of stag hounds, arous-
ed by the noise, bayed furiousiy from
their kennels. The wolves, taking
the hint, stopped in their mad career,
and after a moments consideration
turned and fed | watched them till
their dusky forms disappeared over 4
neighboring HILL then, taking off my
skates, | wended my way to the house.
My Boy DRUNK. "" Drunk : nv
boy drunk and the tears started to
the mothers eyes, and she bent her
head IN unutterable sorrow. In that
moment the visions OF useful and
honorable career were destroyed, and
one of worthlessness, If not absolute
dishonor, presented itself. Well did
she know that intemperance walks
hand in hand with poverty, shame and
death and her mother heart was pier
ced as with a sharp poined steel
Ali Young man, if the holy feeling
OF love for her who bore you is not
dead within You. shun that which Viii
give her pain--adhere to that which
gives her Joy. If she is with her F'a-
ther in Heaven, shun that course Of
life which shuts the gates Of heaven
against you, and debars you from her
society forever. The drankard caa
never inherit the kingdom Of heaven.