Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-03-18

to the wolves that crowded one upon
another, until he had almost lost his
breath. But such a hetacomb of
slaughtered creatures lay all around
that the whole pack were checked,
while the sleigh, dragged slowly on by
the dropping horses, crept away from
them. The Count had only been saved
from the teeth of those on his side by
the thickness of his fur clothing, while
the Englishman had only used the re-
volvers, two extra ones of which he
managed to get from the rack in the
bottom of the sleigh.
He came to hisj GOODNESS and cour-
age at last, and fired with precision
each time down the nearest gaping
throat,ssand every time dropping the
enemy.
They had only time to load the guns
before the bowling pack started for
them again, the Count, with the cool
ness OF veteran, shooting them down
one after another. They were still two
miles from home.
"Ivan?"
eyes, Count"
"The horses are doing all they can ?"
eyes, Count.
"Give me the relns. Jump out and
cut loose the leader. Put bullet
through his brains and get back quick,
man-qulck, I say!
The intelligent driver did as he was
bid. The horse died instantly. The
driver was back in bis seat and the
sleigh was moving homeward again
The Count now turned once more and
emptied gun after gun among the
crowd that stopped about the horse,
while the Englishman reloaded.
'Good !" said the Count; another
mile and we are safe.
But the horses could hardly moye
faster than a smart walk, now and
then trotting for few rods They
were completely used up. The arms
were once more all loaded, and one by
one, then by twos, at last all together,
the wolves left the carcass of the
horse. All! those precious moments
in which they had been thus engaged
had been the salvation of the party in
the sleigh. The house was in sight.
The horses made an extra effort at the
cheering view before them. The
Count stood up and delivered dozen
shots one after another among the
wolves, causing still further check to
their progress, and the servants in the
house, aroused by the noise, threw
wide the gates, through which the
horses crept and fell at once in the
snow.
The gates were closed, and the we'll
armed household poured volley after
volley among the ravenous creatures
until there were none left to devour
the wounded, The horses were care
fully rubbed and tended, and by-and-
by judiciously fed, so that they were
soon in way to recover their ex-,
pended energies. But how about the
two men?
Immediately on entering the ground,
behind the high walls of which they
were safe, the Count sent for brandy
and hot water. The Englishu1an had
tainted at last from excitement and ex-
ertion. He poured out half tumbler
with some honey, and made Ivan
drink it as hot as possible, but to his
companion he gave it clear, and in
small spoonfulls at a time, until he
brought him quite to himself again.
His own nerves and system seemed
made of iron, and he was quite as well
as ever in few moments after enter
ing the house.
SIT was that poor horse that saved
us after all, said the Count, as they
sat smoking at last before the broad,
well filed fire place.
"And it was providential that you
happened to put him into the team
after it came up to the door," said his
friend.
Then ii was explained to the visitor
that this was remarkable instance.
The heavy SHOWS had cut off all
sources of food from the wolves, and
thus rendered them ravenous. At
most seasons of the year they were
very shy, aud were hunted with per
feet safety, it being only necessary to
avoid them after night fall, when they
were apt to herd i'll packs, in order to
fight such animals as were superior to
themselves, unless attacked by NUNS
bers at the same time.
Young Hurburt never forgot that
fight with wolves upon the steppes of
Russia.
A young man, in New York, re
Gently picked up an envelope contain
ing $4,000 worth of bonds, which he
returned to the owners, firm of banks
ers. The latter had just had circulars
printed offering $1,000 reward for the