The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-07-27

performances by making the iores, ring
with a repetition Of the Wild savage er,
that had struck such terror into Uscis
Toms timid heart But there % an tna
to all things. and %, after while, there
was sn end to Peters mirth, and he. uip-
ing his eyes, regainei his path and va.
about to resume his journey. when BE
heard sound that sent cold shivers cghrs-
ing ever his holy, and almost froze the
blood in biz vicns. The wolves hal heard
his successful imitation Of their music. ana
and were coming down full cry upon him.
In an instant he realized his position
ami peril From the sound. he knew
that the wolves were coming down on ei.
Iher side OF the path lac had just Travelled.
and therefore the nearest point Of safety
was bis own clearing, more that a mile
away.
All this passed through his mind like n
flash, and then, calling all his energies in
to play, he dashed down the path with
scarcely less speel and terror than had
Uncle Tom Barry himself. Peter was a
famous runner, AMI had come of victor in
many trial OF speed when the people had
come together for a raising or log-rolling.
but this was no holiday game. lie was
hot taxing his muscles to win the applause
Of admiriug friends, tr to crafty an ambi-
ton to excel.
The race was for life.
Down the long slope that led to Pilkin's
Hollow, and up the ascent beyond, He'd Pc
ter, while hardly hundred yards behind
came yelping, snarling pack, hungry and
fierce. The life of an unarmed man would
not be worth a minutes purchase, could
they once surround him. This Peter &c
knowledgei to himself as a thought enter
ed his head of standing on the defensive.
so he abandoned the thought before il was
fully formed, and braced himself anew for
the flight
Down another long slope, across broad
sheet OF ice at its foot, and Letherbee's
Hill, with its. long, steep ascent lay before
HIM. lie shuddered as he glanced up its
rugged side, for he ielt that his strength
woald scarcely suffice to carry him to the
top. The perspiration streamed from every
pore; his breath came in short wheezv
gasps; his steps were becoming unsteady.
and once, striking his foot against a stone.
be saved himself from falling only by an
effort so great that the blool spurtel from
his nostris, and flames seemed to lean
from his vision
Still he kept OH though ii seemed mad
ness to hope, for his pursuers had gained
upon him iearfully; he knew it by the
beating of their footsteps, but with ener-
gles inspired 10y mortal terror, he ran on.
hoping to gain the brow Of the hill. for
for there the ground became more omen.
and his own cabin was but a few yard. be.
yond. He felt sure that his pursuers
would not follow him beyond the summit
but could he reach it before they could
close upon him?
No, not 10y his own cxertions, for lust A.
the thought passed through his mind, HE
foot caught under a gnarled root that ex-
tended across the way, and he tell heavily
forward, his head struck the frozen ground.
and be lay sensclcs..
When Peter returned to consciousness
he found himself hanging over the broad
shoulders Of his brother John, and about
to enter his own door lie soon collected
his scattered senses and was able to listen
inullgentIy to his brother, account OF hi.
rescue
Uncle Tom Barry, in his light, had
stopped at the cabin long enough to shout
through the window that the wolves were
out, aud the hurried on. John. who li,-
ell with his brother, knowing that Peter
must come the same path, took hi. gun
and walked out to the edge Of tie forest
where he hal,ei to listen. But a sb,r,
time elapsed before he heard the sound ot
rnrsuer- and pursued, aud runnin, down
the bill he arrived upon lie scene lust i'm
time 60 leap between Peter. PROSTATE form
aud the wolves the foremost Of which WAS
les fian ten feet distant rakiny -te,Iy
arm be sent a bullet through the creature,
brain, aud then, while the pack were f,ht.
'nt ''er tle dead body OF thrr e,mnI,.
"es1's Peter over hs back aud gql,ci
t.e open ground iu safety.
Peter frankly told the whole truth con-
esrh''s the alair from beginning TO cuI.
'.i concluded che story with the emphat.
. Be- assertion t'af a- long be lived be would