The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-08-16

! enjoyment of his success Loud and long
he laughed, occasionally varying the per
Torrance by making the forest ring with
repetition of the Wild, savage cry that had
, struck terror into Uncle Toms timid heart.
But there. is an end to all things, and So,
| after while, there was an end Of Peter
nHth' and he, wiPing his eyes, regajucd
the path, and was about to resume his
journey, when he heard a sound that sent
the cold shivers cOursing over his body
and almost froze the blood in hisycius.---
The wolves had heard his successful imita
ton of their music, and were coming down,
full cry, upon him.
In an instant he realized his position and
peril. Ffotn the sounds he know that the
wolves were coming down ON either side of
the path he had just travelled, and there
fore the nearest point of safety was his own
clearing more than a mile away.
All this passed through his mind like
flash, and then calling all his energies
into play, he dashed down the path with
scarcely less speeT ar1 terror than did
Uncle Tom Barry himself. Peter was a
famous runner and had come off victor in
many trial oF speed when the people had
come together at raising or log-rollfng.
but this was no holiday game lie was
not taxing his muscle to win applause of
admiring friends or to CRAFTY an ambition
to excel.
The race was for life
Down the long slope that led to PiIkin's
Hollow, and up the ascent beyond fed
Peter, while hardly hundfed yards behind
him came a snarlihg pack, hungry and
fierce. The life of an unarmed man would
not be worth minutes purchase could
they once surround him. This Peter ac-
knowledged to himself, as thought en-
tered his mind of standing ON the defensive
so he abandoned the thought before it was
fully FORMED, and braced himself anew for
flight.
Down another long slope, across broad
sheet of ice at its foot and Letherboe's
Hill, with its long, steep ascent lay before
him. He shuddered as he glanced up its
side, for he felt that his strength would
scarcely suffice to carry him to the top
The perspiration streamed from every pore.
his breath came in short, Wheeling gaSps.
his steps were becoming unsteady. and
once, striking his foot against a loose stone,
he preserved himself from falling only by
an exertion SO great that the blood spurted
from his nostrils and flames seemed to lean
before his vision.
Still he kept on, though it seemed mad
ness to hope, for his pursucrs had gained
on him feaIfully; he knew it by the beat
ing of their footsteps, but with energies
inspired by mortal terror, he ran on, hop
ing to gain only the brow of the hill, for
there the ground became more open, and
his own cabin was but a few yards beyond.
He felt sure that his pursuers would not
follow him beyond The summit bat could
he reach it before they would close upon
him
No, not by his own exertions, for Just as
the thought passed through his mind, his
foot caught under gnarled root that ex-
tended across the way, and he fell heavily
forward. His head struck the frozen,
ground, and he lay senseless.
When Peter recovered consciousness he
found himselfh hanging over the broad shoul-
ders of his brother John, and about to
enter his own door. Here he soon collected
his scattered senses, and was able to listen
intelligently to his brothers account of his
rescue. .
Uncle Tom Barry, in his flight. had stor-
ped at the cabin long enough to shout
through the window that the wolves were
out, and hurried on. John, who lived with
his brother, knowing that Peter must
come the same path, took his gun and
walked out to the edge of the forest, where
he halted to listen. But a short time
elapsed before he heard the sound of pur
sued and pursuers, and rushing down the
inll he arrived upon the scene just in time
to leap between Peters PROSTATE form and
the wolves, the foremost of which vas no
less than ten feet distant Taking steady
aim he shot a bullet into the creatures
brain, and then while the pack were fight
ing over the dead body of their comrade, he
slung Peter over his back and gained the
open ground in safety. @
Peter frankly told the whole truth about
the affair, from beginning TO end, and con-
cluded the story with the emphatic asser-
ton, that as long as he lived he would !
never be guilty of another practical joke,
VOW which he faithfully kept
AN exchange gays Most of the press
people are making objections to the recent
comforting of the degree of Doctor of Laws
on General President Grant, by old Harvard.
This is all wrong If ever man has doc