The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-01-10


the party, and Eric, my lover, the most
stalwart youth of the countryside
But all things, even the pleasantest.
must come to an end. SO when the
shades OF evening began to fall heavily,
merging earth, sky and water into one
great leaden cloud, we began our Jour
ney homewards. Tired out with exer
tons, as soon as we started [ nestled
down amongst the soft furs in the
sleigh, and, rocked by it's easy motion,
soon fell fast asleep. How long I slept
| knew not but when L awoke it was
showing fast, and the darkness so in
tense that we could not see a hands
breadth before us. I called to Eric.
who was driving, and asked if all was
well. 70 which the answer came back,
half-deadened by the thick atmosphere,
"All well, but for Gods sake try 10
keep awake"
So l aroused myself and sat up.
knowing that sleep in that bitter night
air might mean death. Of any other
I had no thought, for nv driver was
skillful, whilst Thor and Odin, our two
sturdy little mountain ponies, knew
their way home almost unguided. Sud-
denly, as ! listened vainly for the echo
of our companions bells, [ heard an
other sound come up with the wind-a
long-drawn hollow moan. Twice or
thrice 1t came at intervals, THIS weird
| noise, each time nearer and more dis
tinct the third time the ponies also
heard it, for they sprang forward with
an impetus that almost shook me out
of the carriage. frightened, I said to
Eric, What, O what is that ? - And
the answer came back, short and stern,
"The Salten hoinds "
Then commen4ed that terrible chase
"for dear hfe," which, though we
should both live twice our allotted
span, we never could forget. Swiftly
we sped along our steeds seemed i'm
PEELED by terror as great as our own,
until they appeared almost to fly.
Breathlessly we hearkenea, hoping
even yet to leave the enemy behind.
But no they travelled with us, gaining
nearer and yet nearer-their cry grow
ing pereeptibly from an uncertain
vague voice of the darkness into the
wolf-like note. We knew nom the
direction whence it came that they
were tracking us from scent SO now
our last poor chance lay in the dark
ness Of the night and our nearness to
Stor AsWan. Eric still held the reins,
and [ covered down at the bottom Of
the sleigh and prayed more earnestly
than | had ever yet done in my life
'for an increase Of the snow-drift, or
aught, even a miracle, if it might only
save us.
On, and on, for tune that seemed
inlerminable, yet might III truth have
been but a few moments. Then the
storm ceased, the moon emerged from
her shelter, and We saw, half a mile in
our rear, dark line coming swiftly and
steadily upon US In the middle Of
white plain, with no nook or corner
visible wherein we could take refuge.
and still nearly a 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 to a howl of savage
eXulration. | could have screamed too
when [ heard it, for fright was driving
one half wild 1t was 50 unutterably
horrible to perish thus. But a glance
at Erie, SO I'm and steadfast, gave me
new courage. / felt that, come what
might, we should at least die together.
Faster and faster we flew, like hunt
Ted animals, death behind us coming on
apace. Afew yards more and he would
claim us for his own. Already we
could hear the rapid breathing of our
foes, see their fierce eyes and white
teeth elittering and cleaning In the
moonlight. Prompted by Eric [ threw
out the bear skin rug which protected
me from the cold. For moment they
8melt of it, then on with fresh fury
after their old prey. One by one,
cushions, wraps, all went over to the
hungry pack, each gaming us an in
slant S priceless delay. As the last fell
from my hand the foremost wolf bound
ed forward, just missing my arm, whilst
his strong cruel jaws met with PANTY
audible snap.
Then Enc turned and looked at me
a long loving glance--and began
knottiDg the reins to the iron side OF
the driving seat. Instinctly diyining
his purpose of giving his life TO save
mine, l sprang forward, and cIinging to
him franticaIlv, whispered :
dearest, remember, We stand OF
fall together"
a sudden thought, justified by our
dire extremity, flashed through my
brain---it was at best forIorn hope
Quickly bent over Eric, snatched the
hunting knife from his belt, and cut
loose the nearest pony. With almost
a human cry of pain the poor animal
gall0ped off, with the ravenous pack
after it. 4 few strides only and it was
surrounded, oveTpowered, down; and
the last sounds we heard ere the wei
come lights Of Stor Aswan came III
sight were our baffled enemies growing
aud fighting over the remains of my
gallant little steed. 1t was a cruel sac
ritice; but necessity knows no law, and
by 1t we were saved.
In years after, as we sal around the
fire at ''New Years Eve" with The
storm beating wildly, rs now, against
the easement, aud the wintry twilight
closing III, our children would ask to
hear, once more, the oft-told tale of
the " Salten hounds" or our fight
g for dear life