Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-31
hat he would not rather meet than :

wolf. jtE&ty 80.
No sooner, therefore, had Peter be.
come convinced t'at the horseman be.
hind him was his neighbor than he re-
solved to use this trait of uncle Tom's
as a means of working out what he
considered would lie 4 most capital
joke. His plans were soon laid, and
he proceeded to put them into execu-
ton. y & @ 4
Creeping through the brush which
bordered his path, he crouched down
and patiently awaited the approach of
his victim. He had not waited long
before uncle Tom, his horse ut a sharp
trot, and himself casting timid glances
around, arrived opposite to his place of
concealment. Peter allowed him to
pass few PAGES, and then springing
forward on his hands and knees, he ut.
tered one or two snarllng yelps, follow.
ed by the loud, clear, gathering cry Of
the wolves.
The effect upon uncle Tom was elec-
trical. Springing half way out of the
saddle, he uttered a. scream of terror,
and then STOPPING until his head nearly
touched the name, Ire plunged his
spurs into his horses TANKS, and was
off down the road like shot. AS for
Peter, he rolled over on his. back, and
kicked his heels in huge enjoyment of
success. Loud and long he laughed.
occasionally varying the performance
by making the forest ring with the
REPETITION of the wild, savage cry that
had struck such terror into uncle
Toms heart. But there is an end to
all things; and so after awhile, there
was an end to Peters mirth, and he
was about to resume his journey,
when he heard sound that sent the
cold shivers coursing over his body,
and almost froze the blood in his
veins. The wolves had heard the suc-
cessful imitation of their music, and
were coming down. full cry upon him.
In al instant he realized his position
and peril. From the sounds he knew
that the wolves were coming down on
each side of the path he had just
travelled, and therefore the nearest
point of safety was his own clearing,
more than mile away.
All this passed through his mind
like flash, and then calling all his
energies into play, he dashed down the
path ut scarcely less speed and terror
than did uncle Tom Barry. Peter was
4 famous runner, and had come of vic.
tor in many trial of speed, when the
people had come together at a raising
Or a log-rolling but this was no holt
day game. He was not taxing his
muscle to win the applause Of admir-.
ing friends, or to crafty an ambition
to excel.
The race. was for life.
Down the long slope that led to Pit
kin's hollow, and up the ascent beyond,
fled Peter, while hardly hundred
yards behind came a snarling pack,
hungry and fierce. The life of all un-
armed man would not be worth min
ute's purchase could they once sur.
round him. This Peter acknowledged
to himself, as a thought entered his
mind to stand on the defensive so he
abandoned the thought before 1T was
fully formed, and braced himself anew
for the flight.
Down another long slope, across a
broad sheet of ice at its foot, and
Lethering's Hill with its long, straight
ascent, lay before him. He shudder.
ed as he glanced at its ragged side, for
he felt his strength would scarcely
suffice to carry him to the top. The
perspiration streamed from every pore
his breath came in short, wheezy
gasps--his steps were becoming I'm.
steady, and once striking his foot
against Il loose stone, he prevented
himself from falling only by AZ, extra
exertion so great that the blood squirt.
ed from his nostrils, and flames seem.
ed to leap before his vision. So,
Still he kept OH, though it seemed
madness to hope, for his pursuers had
gained on him fearfully: he knew ii
by the beating of their footsteps; but
with eagcrness inspired by mortal
terror he ran on, hoping to gain only
the brow of the hill, for there the
ground became more open, and his
own cabin was but a few yards beyond
He felt very sure that his. pursuers
would not follow him beyond the sum
nit; but could he reach it before
they would close upon him?
No, not by his own exertions. fol
just as the thought passed through hi.
mind his foot caught a gnarled root
that extended across the way, and he
fell heavily forward, his head striking
the frozen ground, and he lay sense
less.
When Peter recovered consciousness
he found himself hanging over the
broad shoulders of his brother John,
and about to enter his own door. Here
he soon collected his scattered senses
and was able to listen intelligently to
his brothers account OF the rescue.
Uncle Tom Barry in his flight, had
stopped at the cabin long enough to
shout through the window that the
wolves were out, and hurried on. John
who lived with bis brother, knowing
that Peter must come to the saree path
took his gun and walked out to the
edge of the forest, where he halted to
listen. But a short time elapsed before
he heard the sound of the pursued and
the pursuers, and rushing down the
hill he arrived upon the scene just In
time to leap between Peters PROSTATE
form and the wolves, the foremost OF
whom were less than ten feet distant.
Taking steady aim, he sent q bullet
through the animals brain, and then.
while the pack wee fighting terribly
over the dead body of their comrade,
he slung Peter over his back and
gained the open ground in perfect
safety.
Peter frankly told the whole truth
about the affair, from beginning tt
end, and concluded the story with the
emphatic assertion that as long rs he
lived he would never be guilty of such
another practical joke; vow he faith
fully kept.
We commend his resolution TO all
practical jokers. Nothing is more fool
ish and reprehensi bic than the average
of practical jokes. The temptation tc
perpetrate one comes often, but should
always be resisted. <-@sss
A Patriotic Jury.
Jurors are sometimes sympathetic
and allow their feelings to run away
with their judgment. This fact j!
often used by shrewd lawyers so as tx
rpoin a 1ynrf1i0f yyGio1, !, nathan. LON, - -,