River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-08-27
a Perllous Aayentnre in Cnnnhn.

FertlOus Adventure I'm Canada.
During the winter Of 1874 had much
leisure to devote to the sports Of new
country. To none Of these was more
given up than to skating. The lonely
lakes, frozen by the intense cold of
northern winter, present a wide field to
the lovers Of this pastime. Often would
| bind on my skates and glide away up
the glittering river. Sometimes would
follow the track Of 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
excursions we're made by moonlight, and
It was on one Of these occasions that !
had an adventure, which even now can.
not recall without nervous feeling.
| had left my friends house one even.
ing just before dusk, with the intention
of skating short distance up the noble
river which glided before the door. The
night was beautifully clear. A peerless
moon sailed over the fleecy clouds, stars
twinkled from the sky and from every
frost.coyered tree in millions. Light
also came glinting from ice, and snow
wreath, and encrusted branches, as the
eye followed for miles the broad CLEAN Of
The river, that like a eweled belt swept
between the mighty forests on it's banks
And yet all was still. The eold seemed
to have frozen tree, and air, and every
living thing. Even the ringing Of my
,hates echoed back from the hill with
startling clearness.
| had gone up the river nearly two
miles, when, coming to little stream
which empties into the larger, | turned
to explore its course, Fir and hemlock
If a century's growth met overhead and
formed an archway radiant with frost.
work. All was dark within, but | was
young and fearless, and as | peered into
an unbrokcn forest that reared itself on
the borders If the stream. shouted with
very joy0usness. Ny hurrah rang
through The woods. and stood listening
to the echo that reverberated again and
again, until all was hushed. Suddenly
,ound arose; it seemed to me to come
from beneath the ice; it was low and
tremulous at first; but it ended in one
long, wild yell. | was appalled,. Never
before had such q noise greeted my ears.
I
shore crash as though from the tread of
some animal; the blood rushed TO my
forehead, my energies returned, and
looked around me for some means o. es.
cape.
The moon shone through the opening
Of the mouth Of the creek by which | had
entered the forest, and, seeing this to be
my one means of escape, | darted toward
il. 1t was hardly hundred yards dis
tant, and the swallow could scarcely have
excelled me in flight; yet, as | turned
my head to the shore, | could see two
dark objects dashng through the brush.
wood at pace nearly double in speed TO
my own. BY the great speed and the
short yells which they gave knew at
once that these were the much dreaded
gray wolves. had never met with these
animals but, from the description given
Of them, had little pleasure in making
their acquaintance. Their ferceaess and
untiring strength render them objects Of
dread to every benighted traveller. With
their long gallop they pursue their prey.
never straying from the track of their
victim and, though perhaps the weared
hunter thinks thai he has ct last out
stripped them, he finds that they have
but waited for the evening TO seize their
| prey.
The bushes that si,irted the shore flew
/ past me as | dashed on in my flight 10
| pass the narrow opening. The outlet was
nearly gained-a few seconds more and /
would be comparatively safe; but in a
moment my pursuers appeared on the
bank above me, which here rose to the
! height Of ten feet. There was no time
! for thought bent my head and dashed
forward. The wolves sprang out, but,
miscalculating my speed, they fell behind
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
| skates, and was some distance from my
pursuer-, 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 If they should never see me, and then
all the energies Of body and mind were
exerted Tor escape. Every half minute a
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 patterlng on the ice-l
even heard heir shutting scent. Every
nerve aud muscle Of my frame was
stretched TO the utmost tension.
The trees along the shore seemed TO
dance in an uncertain light, 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 involuntary motion on my part
turned me Out Of my course. The wolves.
close behind, unable 20 stop, and as un.
1hle to turn on the smooth ice, slipped
and ZEN, still going on far ahead. Their
tongues were lollng out; their white
fangs were cleaning from their mouths
their dark, shaggy breasts we're hecked
with foam, and as they passed me their
ewes 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
I their feet, they are unable TO run on ice.
except in q straight line.
? immediately acted upon this plan.