Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-02-17
WHOLE NO. 1898


me, while their intended prey glided
out upon the river.
Of course | turned toward home
The light flakes of snow spun from
the iron Of my skates and was some
distance from my pursuers, when their
fierce howl told me they were after me
still. did not look back ! did not
feel afraid, or sorry, or glad-One
thought Of home, Of the bright faces
awaiting my return, and Of their tears
II they never should see me, and then
all the energies of body and mind
were eXerted for escape. Every half
minute furious yclp from my fierce
foes made me certain that they were
in close pursuit. Nearcr and nearer
they came-at last | heard their feet
pattaring on the ice-I even heard
their snutlling scent. Every nerve
and muscle Of my frame was stretched
to the utmost tension.
The trees along the shore seemed t.
dance in an uncertain lighj, and my
brain turned with my own breathless
speed yet still my pursucrs seemed
to hiss forth their breath with sound
truly horrible, when an involuntary
motion on my part turned me ont OF
my course The wolves, close behind,
unable to stop, and as unable to tuu
on the smooth ice, slipped and fell,
still going on far ahead. Their ton.
CUES were lolling out their white
tmgs were cleaning from their
mouths their dark, shaggy breasts
were fecked with foam, and as they
passed me their eyes glared and they
hoWled with fury, The thought flash
ed on my mind that by this means |
could avoid them-namely by turning
aside whenever they came too near
for, by the formation oftheir feet they
are unable to run ON ice, except in a
straight line.
Immediately acted upon this plan.
The wolves having regained their
feet, sprang directly toward me. The
race was renewed tol twenty yards up
d'v ouc"'n 1h,, "vlc "ie"u. oIoav
on my back when glided round and
dashed directly past them. A fierce
yell greeted my evolution, and the
wolves, slipping on their launches,
sailed onward, presenting a perfect
picture ofhelplessnoss and bahied rage
Thus | gained nearly a hundred yards
at each turning. This was repeated
two or three times, every moment
the animals becoming more and more
excited.
At one time, by delaying my turn,
ing too long, the wolves came so near
that they threw their white foam over
my dress as they sprang to seize
me, and their teeth clashed together
like the spring Of i fox trap. Had
my skates failed for one instant--had
tripped on a stick, or had my foot
been caught in afssure Of the icc-the
story | am now telling would never
have been told.
But | soon came opposite the house,
and my hounds-I knew their deep
voices -roused by the noise, bayed
turlously from their kennels. | heard
their chains rattle; how | wished
they would break them then |
should have had protectors to match
the fierce denizens Of the forest. The
wolves, taking the hint conveyed by
the dogs, stopped in their career, and
after Il few moments turned and fled
watched them until their forms dis
appeared over neighboring hill;
then, taking Off my skates, l wended
my way to the house, with grateful
feelings for my preservation. But
even yet [ never see broad sheet of
ice by moonlight without thinking OF
that snutfing breath and those fearful
wolves that followed me so closely
down that frozen river.
Farming in California.
A Farm in California, consisting