The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-06-01

continual clang of my trusty steel, as l
glided leisurely and silently over the crys.
tai surface of the stream. But suddenly,
as if some yswning abyss was before me,
into which l was rushing, stopped short
and listened brcathlcssly, while my heart
gave one great bound ami stood still.
Again came the cry, borne upon the still,
w'ntry atmosphere, and in the direction
from which l had come. A cry that
quickened every pulse in my body, and
chilled the blood in my veins. Not a
human cry, and although thought had
never heard a like sound before, was
convinced 1t was that of \ wolf.
For an instant / stood terror stricken
and powerless to move muscle, but the
next, awakening to- full sense of my con-
dition, was away like the wind, and as
turned saw distinctly, by aid of the
moonlight, dark mass leap from the dis
tant shore and come bounding on in my
course. And knew it was not
one, but perhaps a dozen, of the blood
thirsty demons following closely, each one
eager to be first. 1t must be race for
life with me-a longer existence or death
to come soon, and | was aware that to
preserve the former my only chance lay
in keeping straight on toward home, a
distance of more than three miles. Three
miles There was no use asking myself
or thinking of the impossibility of such
sn undertaking. There was no other al
tentative. had nothing whatever upon
my person-not even = knife to protect
myself with if should have the coura. c
to use one. l feared to take to the shore
lest in searching for tree should find
none suitable for climbing, while delay
would bring the wolves upon me. And
should | be so fortunate as to ascend
tree would have to run the risk of re-
naming in one all night and being frozen
to death.
No, never! and bending lower upon my
skates called forth all the strength that
would help to increase my speed and
place greater distance between me and
my hungry pursuers.
CHANGING over my shoulder revealed to
me the first wolf just rounding curve in
the river, not thirty rods in my rear. On,
on sped, while the ice seemed one gilt
tering, sparkling sheet of silver as l shot
past wooded shores under the satellite of
the night, guiding me forward in my on
ward race. Hstless, with hair blowing in
the wind, and eyes protruding with terror,
| Unjust have presented spectacle of sub
lime and excitable interest.
Two more milesl Ny limbs are grow
ing numb, my brain begins to reel, and
ger on. while bend still lower upon my
skates, until my face nearly touches the
ground. cannot keep on much longer
Harkl The rapid bounds of the foremost
wolf mingle with the ring of my STEEL A
few more springs and he will have reached
me. Oh, the horror depicted in that one
moment! My strokes become slow and
tagging, my courage wanes, dizziness
comes over me. My legs refuse to sus-
tain their burden longer, and with one
last leeDle plunge forward, TALL helpless
ly on the ice, with hands clasped to my
face as if to shut out the approaching
scene and feeling, so terrible 10 my mag
NATIVE brain. A heavy body leaps sud-
denly upon me, two great paws are rest
ing on my shoulders, while can feel the
animals hot breath tanning my flushed
and throbbing temples. At last the crisis
had come, and closing my eyes uttered
one last despairing cry. But it died out
upon my lips as cold muzzle was thrust
in my face, and looking timidly up l saw
Blinker standing over me. Good, kind,
faithful Blinker, who would have died
rather than harm hair Of my head, but
from whom | had been fleeing as If for
very lite for the past halt-hour.-Young
Folks Monthly.