Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-10-19

below,
The ANGELS in tender love
Were sctting it up above:
A Narrow Escape.
BY COL. GRAY.
During the winter of 1866, the
writer was connected with United
States Survey Company engaged In re-
marking and stalking the international
line between the upper British Provin'
ces and land belonging to the United
States, near the Red River of the
North, on territory known at that time
as northern Minnesota. 1t was here
that the adventure which am about
to relate occurred.
A company of three Of us had been
sent out by the chief to explore I,
medium sized lake, through which
the International Survey line ran.
Our business was to ascertain how
much of the lake lay within Cucle
Sans limits.
We left camp about two O'Clock in
the afternoon, and after weary tramp
of FIVE miles through a forrest, our
way obstructed by logs and underbrush,
we arrived on the shores of the lake.
It was dismal place. No habitations
were near-nothing met the eye but
the level stretch of ice upon the sur.
face of the lake, and a wilderness OF
tall pines, spruce and birch surround.
ing it on all sides.
Some time was consumed in finding
the marks left there by former sur.
veying company, and ascertaining the
course marked out across the lake.
But at length this was accomplished
and we prepared to start for camp,
being at the lower end of the lake,
or at the. point furthest from camp.
One of my companions, whom I shall
call Leighton, had brought his skates,
and I never left camp without mine,
not knowing how many weary foot
steps they might save me, for the
country was nearly one.third swamps
and small lakes.
But the third man Of our party had
no skates. He was good natured roll
licking 1rishman by the name of Jim.
my Mcclure, and was what is technic-
ally known as an axe.man that is to
say, it was his duty to be always pro.
vided with an axe, for the purpose of
"blazing' trees, cutting poles, stakes,
etc.
Jimmy had no skates, so after strap
ping ours on, it was agreed that he
should stand before us with his feet a
little forward, and braoed for sliding,
so that we could push him along as we
skated across the four or FIVE miles of
ice that covered the surface of the
lake.
It was coming on night, or twilight,
as we started of, but full moon was
rising, and we did not mind it, as we
had just finished hearty lunch of cold
ham and bread that we had brought
from camp with us. It was easy enough
to attain high rate Of speed, and the
Irishman undoubtedly never had such
a slide before. The rate of speed at
which we pushed him along almost
made his boots smoke.
In less than fifteen minutes We ap.
preached the other shore, and here we
slackened' speed. Just then we saw
some kind of animals darting in and
out among the underbrush, like lot
of dogs at play.
We stopped abruptly, almost pulling
Jimmy over backwards, and proceeded
to look more carefully. Il was but
moment or two, and we ascertained the
secret of the mystery, for one, two,
four, six large timber wolves presently
came out from the cover of the brush.
Five of them raised their long noses
and gave vent to the long, bloodhound
ling howl, with which all frontiersmen
are familiar.
"Howly Father, we shall be aiten! -
breathed Jimmy.
It certainly looked as if his fears
would be realized, for the wolves were
apparently very hungry, and we no.
ticed, with feeling of terror, that
they intended to attack us ON the ice.
"No time to be lost, Colonel said
Leighton, excitedly. ssWe must put
pack across the lake, and 60 around
them"
Hastily getting Jimmy before us, we
turned and. shot off with arrow.like
swiftness. But the wolves at once
took to the ice and gave swift chase.
They slipped considerably as first, but
after getting under full Roadway, they
made long, rapid bounds, and gained
on us every moment. Besides, Jimmy
1mReded our progress very much.
Still, we strained every nerve, con-
tested every inch. A few minutes
more showed that some new device
must be attempted, or they would at.
tack us. We could distinctly hear
their short, painting breath, and the
swift patter of their feet.
Colonel, we must dodge!' said
Leighton, as he gave q quick glance
over his shoulder. "Thcy are right
upon us -
IAN ready l exclaimed. Now
to the right"
and as l spoke we made a quick,
short curve. p, The result was more
tnan we expected. The wolves, of
course, could not stop at once, but
went sliding by us on their launches,
one of them so near as to snap at my
legs. But in turning too short we up.
set Mcclure, who went down in spite
of us, else we should have gained
fair start of the wolves before they
could have stopped their momentum
80 as to turn. -%x
As it was, Jimmy had ssslewed''
8ICuNu Wueu We LucneQ, 6nppeQ from
our grasp, and went sliding on his
back in nearly the direction of ;the
wolves. ~..
As tho lrishman rose to his feet, the
wolves turned and rushed directly at
him, only a few rods separating them,
while my comra1e and myself were
several yards farther away.
But We had no idea of DESERVING the
faithful fellow, though the sequel
proved that Jimmy was master of the
situation, and the hero of the hour
after all.
As theswolves sprang forward with
open jaws, flecked with foam, Mcclure
unstrapped his trusty axe from his
back and poised it for blow. The op.S
portunity was at hand. Along, gaunt
wolf rushed forward, and made q