Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-11-12
A NIGHT WITH THE WOLVES

over the glistening sheet or snow
which covered the whole country for
miles around.
Four splendid horses drew a sledge,
and we bounded along nOiselessly,
smoothly, raaidly, like phantoms.
! Suddenly one of the traces gave way,
and in an instant all our four horses,
young and high-spirited, were kick
ing and plunging fearfully. The bro
ken trace was only the least domage
done; and when I and Fritz, my ser
want, scrambled out, and seiZing their
heads, stopped their pranks, we found
that they had nearly kicked them
selves free from the sledge.
It took us full hours work to re-
pair the damage, and we were COM
pelled to go at e comparatively. slow
pace. for fear that something should
again give way.
I lighted a cigar, and, well wrapped
/ in furs and clOaks, leaned lazily ana
luxuriously back, enjoying the gentle,
easy motion, and watching the four
horses'as they bounded along with the
light sledge.
On a sudden they burst into furi--
Gus gallop. With alarmed eyes ana
erected ears, the eager horses disregar-
! ded the utmost efforts of curb and
! bride, and dragged us forward with
a velocity / should have thought i'm
possible. As there was no danger, l
was rather amused than otherwise by
the glorious pace at which we were
going.
All on a sudden, Fritz turned in his
seat, and said, in a low voice, his face
pale with emotion.
1.-The wolvesu'
stood UP in the sledge, and looked
/ back. l could discern dark mass IN
the snow at a great distance.
In about ten minutes / heard q
sound in the distance which at first
thought was the whistling of the
wind.
1t was the bowling of the hungry
and ferocious pack of wolves on Oul
track. Closer and closer came the
dark mass; palmer and palmer the
dreadful hOwls.
The arms we had, consisted of two
fowling-pieces and a brace of pistols
Unfortunately, we had but a very
scanty stock of powder and ball. anC
not more than enough for two or three
discharges.
What is to be dOne?" I whispered
to Fritz.
"Fight!-fght to the Iast!" he re
lplied I'VE must be Overtaken. Th'
horses cannot hold out much longer
It is yet quite twenty miles to tn,
chateau, and they will be upon us il
few minutes. Ha!'' he cried, sud
denly, II had orgotten-there is We
a gleam of hOpew
And now he lashed the horses, al
ready at their utmost speed, and ever
stabbed them repeatedly with hi
, hunting-knife, to urge them on t
fresh exertions.
Ahead of US was small forest, o
rather wood. It was distant som
two miles; but owing to the whit
sheet of snow between. looked mucl
nearer.
a The chase continued. 1 stood read
8 with my fowling-piece to fire immedi
: ately they were within shot.
The feetest of the pack dashe
ahead of the OF hers, and apprOache
within a few yards of the sledge.-
p Their hoWls were fearful. l fired tW
barrels, and three wolves fell dead Q
wounded. In an instant these weT
surrounded by the others, who quick
ly tore them to pieces.
: This obtained Us a respite-but
z very short one.
I again loaded my piece, and agai
! the pack dashed on in pursuit. w
had not gained half mile, when the
= were again up with US. This tim
they came on more furiOusly an
boldly than before-the brutes ha
: tasted blood. When they were nes
. enough, I again fired, and two wolvC
fell. This time, however, the devouI
= ing of their companions did not TAX
so long, for had only wounded TIVE
Once again ] reloaded the fOwlinl
niece, and found that all our ammun
= tion was thereby exhausted.
is uDonot fire." said Fritz, when II
formed him of the fact, It'll the La
moment-reserve your fire for our la
Il as there any?'' asked, gIOomil!
zone. and one only. Not far frOl
this. in the woods hence-but / do NJ
know how far, perhaps not more tha
a a mile-is an old hunting-lOdge;
we can reach it, we are safe-n no
we are lost.
10 great monsters were absolutely lH
abreast of us, and were striving to g
ahead to the horses.
= Fire fire!r shouted Fritz FIR
and aim well, for If those brutes reaS
the horses, we are lost. /"
sSt fred a barrel at the wolf on n
left. and over he went with q bull
through his body. Oh
ee I very nearly missed the second, b
. fortunately the ball grazed the bone
his leg, breaking it, and causing on
- to fall. But several Others took ehs
places. -
keep them off! Keep them of
shouted Fritz, .but for one minht
iss and we are saved. The hut Is close by
en- Frantically be fi0gged and shout
= TO the horses. and desperately they
sbonded to the call. fired the "
- barrels Of the remaining fowhng. pieC
and then, sticking my pistols IN n
belt, / shOuldered my gun, aud sta
ding up, struck right and left ct Q
hoWling. pack, which were now g
- idly aeCumulatiDg on our rear. ~