The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-09-01
A RACE FOR LIFE.


and friend. but with one abominable
habit that won him many enemies.
and caused discomfort and even suffer
inc to those around him. This was an
almost irresistible fondness for prac.
tical Joking that would not allow him
to let an opportunity PASS unimproved.
wherein he could crafty this special
passion of his being.
There came a time, however. when
the exercise of this popularity brought
upon him an Ordeal so sharp that
it cured his unfortunate propensity to
the great JOY of his friends and family.
The process was disagreeable, but the
cure was effectual and permanent.
one day Peter had been at work a
few miles from home. After his day S
labor was finished, his employer IN
vited him to partake OF the evening
meal with him. This invitation Peter
accepted, and then his system fortified
by a hearty supper, he commenced his
journey hCmeWaTd.
The path that Peter trod that night
would lead one to-day through cultlvat-
ed fields and 10y many pleasant farm
houses; but then it was an unbrOken
forest.
1t was a dark, cold. December night;
the WiEd swept ftfully among the
great pines and beecheS, and strange,
moaning sounds went sobbing through
the forest now and then an owl utter
ed its hOarse cry, or the sudden rat
thing OF the coarse leaves told where
some timid animals scurried away
from sounds of footsteps.
J = 81. was StTOOu and III q bt IN IF.
ell. and trudged quietly along without
paying much attention to the sights
and sounds around him, until he had
achieved perhaps One-half his journey,
when suddenly his ears caught the
sound of a horses feet descending the
long rocky path behind him. Grad
ually the sound grew nearer, until the
sharp peculiar voice of the hOrseman
could be heard urging his beast to Il
faster gait.
.Ahi hal" said Peter to himself, as
lie heard the old familiar tones, 'that is
uncle Tom Barry.
Now uncle Tom and Pete were neigh
hOrs. that is to say, their clearings lay
about a mile apart, and none knew bet
ter than Pete that the ola man was nat
urally of timid disposition, and fur
thermore, that nothing inspired him
with greater fear-there was nothing
that he would not rather meet than a
wolf.
No sooner, therefore, had Peter be-
come convinced t'lat the hOrseman be-
hind him was his neighbOr than he re-
solved to use this trait of uncle Tom S
us means Of working out what he
considered would he most capital
Joke. His plans were soon lald, and
he proceeded to put them into eXecu-
ton.
Creeping through the brush which
bOrdered his path. he crouched down
and patiently awaited the approach of
his victim. lie had not waited long
before uncle Tom, his horse at Il sharp
trot, and himself casting timid chances
around, arrived opposite to his place Of
concealment. Peter allowed him to
pass a few PAGES, and then springing
forward on his hands and knees, he ut
tered one or t snarllng yelps, follow
ed by the louo, clear, gathering cry of
the wolves.
The effect upon uncle Tom was cleo
trical. Springing half way out of the
saddle, he uttered a scream of terror.
and then STOPPING until his head nearly
touched the name, he plunged his
spurs into his horses TANKS, and was
off down the road like a 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
imatitiOn of the wild, savage cry that
had struck such terror into uncle
To ms 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 a sound that sent the
cold Shiyers cOursing over his body
and almost fToZe the blood in his
veins. The wolves had heard the sue
cessful imitation of their music, and
were coming down. full cry upon him.
In an instant he realized his position
and peril. From the sounds he knew
tab 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 a fash, and then calling all his
energies into play, he dashed down the
path at scarcely less speed and terror
than did uncle Tom Barry. Peter was
famous runner, and had come off VIC
tor in many 4 trial of speed, when the
people had come together 1T q raising
or log-rolling; but this was no holt
day game. He was not taxing his
muscle to win the applause of admir-
ing friends, OF to crafty an ambition
to excel.
The race was for life.
Down the long slope that led to Pit
kin 5 hollow, and up the ascent beyond.
fled Peter, while hardly a hundred
yards behind came snarling pack,
hungry and fierce. The life Of an un-
armed man would not he 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 it WAS
fully formed, and braccd himself anew
for the flight.