The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-12-08
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER g. 1876

| Ing or IeeG among Jne WltneFeu
leaves and snow, and then long
drawn whining howl, that seemed
to issue from fifty throats, while
dark objects began to glance,
phantotn-like, between the trees.
"Wolves! wolves !" cried Ami.
cite, with shrek Of terror, but
already the affrighted horses had
set off at mad gallop, swerving
from side to side OF the road in a
manner that threatened to upset
the sledge. Again there burst forth
that horrid cry; and Marston ex-
erted his skill and strength in
maintaininga mastery over the
snorting horses, Annette, looking
fearfully back, announced the un-
welcome tidings that they we're
pursued.
"You must be cool, dearest one,
! now, for both our sakes-for mine,"
said the young Englishman, as be
| cast a glance at the dark specks
dotting the snow. "You can drive
we'll, l know. Only keep the
horses to the road and all will yet
be WE'LL"
AS the young countess took the
reins, Edgar stopped for his trus-
ty rife, and leveled it with delib-
crate aim at the foremost wolf,
now bounding far before the rest.
The huge brute rolled over on the
crimsoned snow, with a cry of rage
and pain that was answered by
the yell of the hurrying pack
and then succeeded a hideous med
ley of confused sounds, followed
by period of silence.
"Have they given up the pur-
suit ?" asked Annette, with white
lips, as Marston reloaded his
piece.
"No, mop answered the young
man, shaking his head. "The
creatures have but paused, as is
their custom, to devour their
wounded comrade. 1t is but an
instant's breathing time which,
He fred both barrels as be spoke
into the thick of the advancing
pack. Four more shots from Ed
gar's rife brought down as many
wolves, but they were now too
near, and two eager in their raven
ing fury, to be beaten off. The
winding Of the road, too, enabled
some of the leaders Of the pack
to gain upon the fast-aying sledge,
and, with rare audacity, to en-
deavor to overleap it's sides, while
Edgar, finging down the gun
slashed at the broad paws and
hairy thrcats with the keen blade
of his heavy hunting-knife, and
succeeded though with difficulty,
in disabling the two foremost of
the assailants. The third, slight
ly hurt, SUNK bowling away;
but a few yards in the rear, the
clamor of the remainder of the
fierce drove told how ruthlessly
the chase was maintained.
He rose to his feet and looked
to right and left. Close to the
roadside on the left grew mighty
beech tree. Could be set his back
to that tree, kill or cripple the
first of the furious wolves, and
swing himself up among the low
er branches, out Of reach of the
others, he might yet have chance
Of life, while the sledge would gain
so much vantage ground that it
| would not be easily overtaken.
Yes, the desperate venture must
| be risked.
Hastily the young man kissed
| Anniette's cold cheek, and bidding
her be of good cheer, since he
| had devised a stratagem that
| would outwit the wolves, be struck
the straining horses sharply with
the whip, and, with his hupting-
knife between his teeth, took a
clear leap over the low brushwood,
and fell on his hands and knees at
| the foot of the beech tree.
Goaded BY terror, the horses
few along the narrow road, which
fortunately at this part Of its
course became straighter than it
| had hitherto been, and the light
sledge was hurried along as if it
had been a feather-weight, over
| the frozen snow. A whirl of con-
fused thoughts passed. through
the girls brain as with relentless
speed the sledge darted on, fur
ther and further from the spot
where Edgar Marston had sprung
out to confront what appeared to