, 1874-10-31
A RACE ron EIFE.

A few years since a couple Of
young men, scarcely arrived of
age, were caught by a snow-storm
while taking up their traps on the
head of the Big Horn river, in
the Rocky mountains. The storm
lasted for several days, nor was
there any hope of escape until the
snow should become compact
enough to bear their weight upon
snow-shoes- las 1e1
The lodge of the brothers, Mich
olas and Jules Semineau, consisted
of a couple of Buffalo robes
stretched in front of an overhAng-
ing rock that overlooked the river.
Here were stored their furs,
neatly tied up IN small bales,
made up principally of the skins
of minks, offers and beavers, with
a few pelts of the silver fox.
Over these were elaid robes which
served them for a bed. "A little
FIRE was replenished from time to
time by the dry branches of pine
and cedar, Of which they fortu-
nately had an ample supply. Thus
they were enabled to pass the
days pleasantly, notwithstanding
the raging Of the elements with
out.
Up the canyon, through which
the river flowed, the wind sucked
and roared terribly. The icy face
of the stream was soon cleared of
snow, which drifted into the later
al canyons, gorging them com
pletely. % 500 A'is
In order to pass away the time,
the young men busted themselves
in making skates from the horns of
an elk. The art Of skating they
had learned while boys on the
broad bosom Of the St. Lawrence.
Their meat running short Mich
olas concluded to have run on
his skates up the river, with the
hope Of killing an elk, which were
numerous on the pine-covered
slopes Of the mountains. Rife in
hand he started in high spirits.
The quick gaze of Nicholas
searchedin every shelter for the
mighty antlers Of the elk or the
blue coat of the black-tailed deer,
the best Of all venison. ).
1t was not long ere he spied a
herd Of the latter, of which be had
the good luck to kill two. The
saddles of these he secured to-
getber, strapped them around his
shoulders and started on his re-
turn home, distant about four miles.
He skated leisurely along, hum
ming a light French air, when
suddenly his ears were struck by
an unearthly cry, which he at
once recognized as the roar of the
mountain lion, and he could dis
tinguish, also, that the cries pro-
ceeded from more than one.
He quickened bis pace. His
skates rang hard against the solid
ice, The cries became clearer,
and he instinctively felt that he
was pursued. y" 3iliA ae
Fearient him wings. He let.
fall ansaddlel hoping thereby to-
satisfy the hunger Of the lions.
He found presently, however, that
they made no halt. It was the
young man they ragged after, and
nought but his blood would ap-
pease them edI Boa nr .T5s4o9
He now cast aside his remain
ing saddle. and his rife, and leaned
forward upon his skates with all
the power he possessed, yet the
beasts gained rapidly upon him.
He could hear theirmighty bounds
AT times he fancied he could feel
their hot breath. He gazed over
his shoulder, and the glance re
yealed the lions, their mouths wide
open and their bIood-red tongues
hanging over their jaws, while
their cries were as frequent as the
baying of a blood hound.
He was now compelled to dou-
BILE on his course, the weight and
impetus of the lions carrying them
beyond him. F1s 5ioi5'ii277i Oh. .
4
Nicholas preserved his presence
Of mind, and by his skill as a
skater, combined with wonderful
activity, he eluded the efforts made
by the lions to seize him, and
drew slowly toward home.