Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-07-14
Chased by Wolves.

rnosIirn srorr or ro-pAr.
Everybody ought to know it's the hop
pers that's to blame, and not Johnnie and
me. We never begged before, sir and
please God, We never win again"
The Relief Commissioner looked kindly
down into Bess Nelson's pleading face, and
answered.
Bless YOU, sis there isn't the shadow OF
an apology due. We're all alike in Kansas
this year-prairie chickens, as it We're, with
our pinieathcrs picked clean out fighting
our way through the coolest weather, too,
that has been known for thirty years
Johnnie and Bess Nelson had come up to
Fort Dodge from their fathers claim, fifteen
miles away, to apply TO the Relief Commits
sioner for supplies TO carry to their destitute
home. Shiyerng under their scanty gar
mcnts, "with stomachs big as Mammoth
Cave an the afternoon they had waited for
! the train which was 20 bring the needed aid
sent by the good people Eastward. About
them TODD band of anxious care-woru farm
/ ers, an having come upon the same press
ing craud as Bcss aud Johnnie.
Late in the afternoon the train arrived.
The wiutry twilight had almost set in ere
Johnnie and Bess had received in full the
/ liberal share OF supplies allotted them. But
a more jubilant boy and girl never started
on a homeNard trip. They had -four, hominy
and ham, tea. coffee, sugar, and otl er articles
Of food; shoes for the little barefoot broth
ers, and baby Bell, ai home woolen clothes,
and even medicine Tor mothers chills and
/ fathers rheumatism.
Johnnie drove bis own red Mustang, pran-
Ger. harnessed TO O. hickory iumper-a rude
/ but .eryiceable affair. made by Mr.. Nelson.
Now. then. we must travel lively" said
Johnnie. as they glidcd over the snowy prai-
rie between Fort Dodge and Smoky Hill
/ Timber. Fifteen miles from home, and
/ after sunset
"'Twould be mo- matter only that pa aud
ma are sick, and they are all 50 hungry az
/ home" said Bess It's bright moonlight,
and We have a big buffalo robe to keep us
warm. I'm So glad the grasshoppers couldn't
rat this up, anyhow
Wrapping themselves suugly in the robe
Bess and Johnnie fell 10 eating eagerly the
supper Of crackers and dried beef they had
spared themselyes- small, indeed because of
the hungry loved ones waiting IN the prairie
cabin When they had finished, Bess took a
nap, while Johnnie whstled softly and made
future plans, into which grasshoppers, drouth
and chinch-hugs did not enter.
The road home led most OF the way
through Smoky Hin Timber. The trees
were thick on either side, but the moon shone
brightly overhead. and stars glimmered in
the cold, clear sky.
In the loncliest part of the timber tired
Bess awoke. Prancer had settled into a lag
ging gait
Poor little Mustang how weak he is z"
said Bess. pityingly. " Hes been so nearly
starved all winter I'm afraid the trip win
use him up entirely
Hush, Bess was Johnnie's only an
swer. lie had thrown of the buffalo robe,
and was sitting in an erect and listening
attitude.
Bess pushed back her brown hood from
her ears, and listened TOO.
Johnnie" She said at length, " | hear
something bowling behind u.s. Rover did
not 90 with us TO Fort Dodge. Do you sup
pose there's a strange dog following Us "
Johnnie only listened more ntently.
Bess gave ,Iohunie's hand anervous clutch.
" II sounds clearer uow and there's lot
Of 'em howlmg together" she said, in a low,
frightened tone, They say that wolves
are unusually fierce this winter. Wolves
sound some like dogs, don't they "
Johnuie's answer was quiet and rcsolute.
" You can be brave girl Bess. The wolves
are after us. Get down in front and hold
the reins. Whip Praucer hard, if need be.
into a dead run
As Johnnie said, Bess could be a brave
girl She quickly saw the danger that
threatened Slipping down in front she
seized the rcins and cruel stick, with which
to whip the tender little pony, whom she
loved almost as well as Johnnie. Holding
in his hand loaded revolver, which he had
brought along as a precaution, Johnnie
turned his face towards the backward road.
At the first touch of the whip 20 which
he was so unused, Prancer leaped forward
into desperate run, but the terrible pur-
suers gained upon him rapidly. Soon a vi
olent painting could be heard, and the leader
of the rack appeared in sight. Nine wolves
were closely following at his heels.
Almost in a twinkling. the foremost wolf
was tearing at the buffalo robe, one end Of
which had fallen from the sleigh behind.
Johnnie fired upon him. With a howl Of
rage and pain, the savage creature released
his hold and fell backward in the snow.
The scent of blood maddened the remainder
OF the pack. They paused in the pursuit 70
rush upon the wounded wolff quarreling
ferociously as to which should taste the last
drop Of blood.
This gave Johnnie temporary rest, al
though he knew the wolves would be after
him again when they had finished tearing
their leader in pieces. Prancer, with true
animal instinct felt his danger, and sped
with almost supernatural strength along the
frozen road. Bess, uttering no sound Of the
alarm that filled her heart, held tightly t.
the reins, and did not feel the cold that cut
her hands and unprotected ears with cruel
sharpness.
Again and again the wolves renewed the
attack, and as often did brave Johnnie re
] L "a
the pursuers with nearly every shot These
were quickly torn in pieces, as the leader OF
the pack had been, thus making fortunate
. intervals in this horrible chase
Faster, Bess faster I've got to reload
my pistol" exclaimed Johnnie, during one
of these short intervals.
Prancer's giving out. I'd rather di,
than whip him any more, cried Bess, de
spairingy.
Johnnie's hands had become so stiff Will
cold that he could scarcely remove the cyl
inder Of the pistol to reset the charges. Il
he should fail in that, one chance remained
The hams might serve for brief delays; bu
that would rob the hungry ones at home
almost as hungry as the wolves themselves
he thought, with sudden pain.
lie made desperate effort, and reset th'
charge but when he had replaced the cylin
DER through some mlSmoVeinent an accldeh
tai ball took flight, and lodged in Johnnet
hand. With loud click the pistol dropped
into the snow beside the way, while tn,
wounded hand fell paralyzed.
Dropping Pancer's reins, Bess threw hel
arms about her brother, with cry of terror
"Dont hold me See, they're coming OF
again There's hatchet in the bottom O
the sleigh that I'd forgotten" said Johnnie
: with desperate impatience.
lie stopped and seized the hatchet; bu
, the hand that tried to raise it fell as power
less as the wounded one from which tn
blood was flowing fast.
Bessie" he said, weakly, " | can't do any
+. more. Throw out the hams and then
Poor Johnnie tainted ere the sentence
could be finished.
= Brave little Bess Her courage rose I,
meet the peril of that moment. The wolve
were gathering hard upon her She coul,