Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-18
hat ?" And the answer came back, short
nd storo u T'bo gafton hou,ds ~

that ?" And the answer came back, short
and stern, The Salten hounds I"
Then began that terrible chase for dear
life " which, though we should both live
for twice our allotted span, we never could
forget. Swiftly we sped along, our steeds
impelled by terror as great as our own,
until they appeared almost to fly. Breath.
lessly we harkened, hoping even yet TO
leave the enemy behind But no they
travelled with US, gained upon US, nearer
and yet nearer-their cry growing percep.
tibly from an uncertain vague voice of the
darkness into the unmistakably wolf.likc
note. We knew from the direction from
whence it came that they were tracking US
by scent so now our last poor chance lay
in the darkness Of the night and our near
ness to Stor Aswan. Eric still held the
reins, and covered down at the bottom of
the sleigh aud prayed more earnestly than
| had ever yet done in my life =" for an in
crease Of the snow.drift, or aught, even a
miracle if il might only save us"
On, and on, for time that seemed in
terminable, yet in truth might have been
but a few moments. Then the storm ceased
the moon emerged from her shelter, and
we saw half mile in our rear a dark
line coming swiftly and steadily down upon
US. In the middle of white plain, with
no nook or corner visible wherein we could
take refuge, aud still nearly league from
home, our case looked hopeless enough. So
our pursuers seemed to think as they now
caught sight Of us for the first time, and
lifting their black muzzles from the ground
gave vent 70 a howl of savage exultation.
| could have screamed too when heard il,
for fright was driving me half wild; it
was so unutteraby horrible to perish thus.
But glance at Eric, so calm and stead
fast, gave me new courage. felt that,
come what might, we should at least die to-
gether,
Faster and faster we flew, like hunted
animals, death behind US coming on apace.
A few yards more and he would claim us
for his own. Already could hear the
rapid breathing of our foes, see their fierce
eyes and white teeth glitteriug and CLEAN.
ing in the moonlight. Prompted by Eric,
| threw out the bear skin rug which pro-
tected me from the cold. For a moment
they paused, smelt at it, then on with fresh
fury after their old prey. One by one,
cushions, wraps, all went over to the hun
cry pack, each gaining us an instant's
priceless delay. As the last fell from my
hand, the foremost wolf bounded forward,
Just missing my arm, whilst his strong, cruel
jaws met with painfully audible snap.
Then Eric turned and looked at me--a
long, loving glance-and began knotting
the reins to the iron side of the driving
seat Instinctively divining his purpose of
giving his life to save mine, sprang for
ward, and clinging to him frantically,
whispered
dearest, remember, we stand or fall
together"
A sudden thought, justified by our
dire extremity, flashed through my brain
it was at best forlorn hope. Quickly l
bent over Eric, snatched the hunting-knife
from his belt and cut loose the nearest
pony With an almost human cry Of pain
the poor animal galloped of, with the
ravcnous pack after it. A few strides only
and it was surrounded, overpowered, down
and the last sounds we heard ere the well
come lights of Stor Aswan came in sight
we're our bafiled enemies growing and fight
ing over the remains Of my gallant little
steed. 1t was cruel sacrifice but neces-
sity knows no law, and by it we were saved.
In years after, as we sat round the fire
at New Years Eve, with the storm beating
wildly, as now, against the easement, and
the wintry twilight closing in, our children
+ would ask to hear, once more" the Oft
told tale of the "Salten hounds" or our
fight " for dear life."