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

coming near enough to leap upon the
sleigh and its occupants. the two gen.
tlemen were compelled to fire rapidly,
and to distribute their shots all along
the curving line of their pursuers.
''This is terrible, said the Count, at
last. els there no end to their NUNS
bers g as he reloaded his gun after kill
ing couple of the nearest.
II suppose they would devour us ms
stantly," said the Englishman, eff they
reached us"
"Undoubtedly," replied the Count.
"Ivan? 7"
eyes, Count"
"Hold your revolver ready. They
are coming close now, and we must
blaze away all at once, dropping as
many as possible, and this will give
them a good check, at least for few
minutes.
The hors es seemed to realize the ex-
igency of the case, and though painting
severely at the long-continued exertion,
still kept pressing forward at rapid
pace. Though more than forty of the
wolves had been shot and devoured by
their comrades, it seemed that the taste
of blood;had only fred the appetites of
the rest of the pack, the number which
had increased constantly until more than
hundred and fifty were now bowling
after the sleigh.
AS the Count had said, they were
drawing very near now. and their guns
were rapidly discharged into the ranks.
Each drew his revolver for close action,
the gentlemen taking revolver in each
hand, and Ivan, the driver, taking the
relns in his left, cooked his revolver
with his right hand, just in time. Fiji
ty open mouths were beside the sleigh
on either side, and a hundred, or more
behind.
''Now, altogether, let them have it
right and left, said the Count.
Ivan, who was perfectly cool, fired
his six charges with deliberate though
rapid aim. dropping half dozen of the
wolves, while the Count with both
hands fired down their Threats on his
side, and the Englishman, though with
less GOODNESS, yet with equal effect, shot
down the ravenous beasts on his side.
More than a dozen of them rolled over
in the snow, while the rapid discharges
of their REVIEWERS nearly together, star,
ted the horses to fresh exertion and
they separa ted from the wolves, who
paused to devour those bodies bleeding
upon the snow.
This delay among the pursuing beasts
who fought wildly over the bodies
which they so quickly tore to pieces,
gave the party in the sleigh breathing
though brief one. The time
was improved to reload the revolvers
and the guns, while the horses were
eased little in their rapid gait in Or
der to save their strength for crisis
which was doubtless to follow. 1t was
s till four miles at least to the shelter of
his grounds. as the Count was compell-
ed to admit. Whether they could keep
the feroeious creatures at bay long
enough to traverse that distance was a
problem,
The pack now turned again to pur.
sue the sleigh.
''Thank heaven for this respite, short
as it is" said the Count Skarinski
drawing long breath, and disposing
the guns for ready use, now all reload
ed.
The young Englishman said little
He had felt the hot breaths of those
wild creatures in his very face, and the
frightful situation was something APP
palling. However, he braced himself
to do his best in fighting the terrible
enemy, who were drawing closer to the
sleigh.
Once more the Count and his COM
panion began to drop the wolves two
at time. So dense were their num-
bers that every shot told, but notwithe
standing these brief checks they were
gaining on the sleigh, their numbers in
no perceptible degree lessened, though
so many had been killed. Indeed, more
now joined them, coming from a piece
of wood which they were just passing
The horses labored painfully. They
had been terribly tried by the long and
continuous drag upon their strength.
''Our revolvers once more" said the
Count, as he emptied the last loaded
gun into the savage enemy. 1T is to
be close action again. Get ready your
revolver, Ivan.
cit is all right, Count" was the
reply.
clay your knife loose" said the
Count to his companion, sit may come
to that"
On came that legion of bowling dew
lis, their eyes glarlng in the dim light,
and once more they were upon the
sleigh.
"Blaze away together,"l said the