Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-20
The skater and the Wolves.

The Skater and the Wolves.
Armlors ApyHsrrrr IN cAsApA
During the winter Of 1914 had much
leisure to devote 10 the sports of new coun-
try. To none Of these was ! more given up
than to skating. The lonely lakes. iruzen by
the intense cold OF Northern winter present
a wide field to the lovers Of this pastme
Often would bind ON my skates and glide
away up the glttering river. Sometimes
would follow the track of a fox or otter and
run my skates along the mark he had left
with his dragging tail. until the trail would
enter the woods Sometimes these cxcur-
sions were made 10y moonlight; and il was
on one of these occasions that had an all
venture, which even now ! cannot recall
without q nervous feeling,
had left my friends house one evening
just before dusk, with the intention Of skat-
ing a short distance up the noble river which
glidcd before the door The night was beau
tifully clear. peerless moon sailed over the
heecy clouds, stars twinkled from the sky
and from every irostcoyercd tree in millions
Light also came glinting from ice, and snow
wreath, and encrusted branches, as the eye
followed for miles the broad gleam of the
river, that like jeweled belt swept between
the mighty forests on its banks. And yet all
was still. The cold seemed 10 have truzen
tree, and air. aud every living thing Even
the ringing Of my skates echoed back from
the hill with startling cleamess
had gone up the river nearly two miles,
when, coming to a little stream which emp
tied into the larger, turned 10 explore It's
course Fir and hcmlock Of a century's
growth, met overhead, and formed an arch
way radiant WIN irost-"ork' All was dark
"ithlui hut ! was young and fearless ana
as ! entered INTO am lnhrokcn forest that
reared itself on the borders OF the stream
shouted with very loyousness My hurrah
rang through the woods and stood listen.
ing to the echo That reverberated again and
again, until all was hushed. suddenly
sound arose-it scented to me 10 come from
beneath the ice' II was so low and uenulous
at hrst' nut II ended IN one long, Wild yell
was appalled,. Never before had such
noise met my ears. Presently heard the
brushwood on shore crash as though irom
the tread oi some aniinal-the blood rushed
TO my iorehead-iny energies returned and
l looked around me for some means of
escape
The moon shone through the opening on
the mouth OF the creek 10y which had entered
the forest and, seeing this to be my one means
hundred yards distant, and the swallow
could hardly have eXcelied me IA flight yet
as ! turned my head to the shore, could
see two dark objects dashing through the
hrnshwood at a pace nearly double M speed
10 my own. by the great speed and the
short yells which they gave, knew at once
that these were the much-dnaded gray
wolves. had never met with these animals,
but from the description gwen OF them,
had little pleasure ih making their acqnain-
tance. Their herceness aud Their untiung
strength render them obJccts oil dread To
every heniBhted traveller WIN their long
galiop they pursue their prey, never straylng
from the track OF their viciimi and though,
perhaps the wearied hunter thinks that he
has at last sut'tupped them, be finds that
they have but waited Tor the evening TO
seize their prey.
he bushes That skirtcd the shore flew
past me as dashed on IN my hight to pass
the narrow opening. The outlet was nearly
gained-a lew seconds more ana would oe
comparatively safe but ma moment my
pursuers appeared on the bank above me,
which here rose 10 the night ol ten feet.
here was no time Tor thought bent my
mead ana dashed forward. Inc wolves
sprang, but misealculaung my speed, they
ielI behind me- Mhile their intended prey
ghded ont upon the riycr
or course turned toward home. The
light iiakes 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 await
ing 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 yelp
from my fierce foes made me certain that
they were IN close pursuit, Nearer and
nearer they came-at last heard their feet
pattering ON the ice-l even heard their
snhilng scent Every nerve and muscle
OF my frame was stretched 10 the utmost
tension
The trees along the shore seemed to dance
IN an uncertain hight and my brain turned
with my own breathless speed; yet still my
pursuers seemed to hiss forth their breath
with a sound truly horrible, when an inyol-
untary motion on my part turned me out of
my course. The wolves, close behind, una
ble TO stop, and as unable TO turn on the
smooth ice, slipped aud tell, still going on
far ahead. Their tongues were lolling out :
their white iangss were cleaning from their
mouths tHclI uaIhi shhSsl uItdsts were
tecked with foam, and as they passed me
their eyes glared and they howled with fury.
The thought flashed on my mind that by
this means could avoid them-namely, by
turning aside whenever they came too near :
for by the formation OF their feet, they
are unable to run on Ice, except IN straight
line.
Immediately acted upon tins plan. The
wolves having regained their feet, sprang di.
rectly toward me- The race was renewed
for twenty yards up the streami they We're
already close on my back when glided
round and dashed directly past them.
fierce yell greeted my evolution, and the
wolves, slipping on their launches, sailed
onward, presenting perfect picture OF help
lessness and baffied rage. Thus ! gained
ms was repeated TWO or three times' every
moment lhe animals becoming more excited