Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-17
r ing for the enemy he had already

ing for the enemy he had already
scented.
If my good horses had gone on so ad-
mirably at first, they sped off now like
arrows from bow, for the madness of
fear added wings to their speed, as that
Of hunger did to the painting pursuers.
: l was growing COOL Iota was pale and
calm. I felt proud of her, although it
was certain if we escaped not speedily,
the brutes would run us down; and
then, horror of horrors what fate for
her!
had two rifles, revolver, ammuni-
ton, a spear, and a wood-hatchet in the
sleigh. conveyed my intentions to
Lota.
"Can you load these weapons with
those cartridges p asked.
eyes," was the answer; and she load
ed Fuller" and "Manton 4" with
true hunters skill. I took one rifle,
looked back, the pack was increasing
l fired and Lota loaded and one after
another fell, to be devoured by their
ravenous comrades; and still the horses
sped on.
The accursed things were, for all this,
gaining ground. Doubts, fears, hopes,
trembling, were at my heart as I turned
to the sweet girl whose life or death
were all to me and said:
"Lota, if we die together, remember
that loved you-none but you tell
it to you now, if may never again"
"Kill me first" she whispered. CT
hear your words-I echo them. You
have my heart, Richard"
ooh, Lota, best beloved, what mo-
ment to confess and [ know not if I
feel pain or gladness most"
"There are no secrets between u.s."
said Lota, smiling. "Take this rifle;
give me-that pistol; one kiss-so
They come Save me from them at
any cost !"
thought my ears would have split at
their dreadful yells, for they were now
upon us, opening out to surround us;
and though the horses held bravely on,
/ dreaded every instant that sheer ter
ror would paralyze them. 1t is scarcely
possible to conceive the unutterable
horror that was circling us both; young
lovers with beating hearts forever from
that hour interchanged with each other.
With lolling tongues, eyes Of fame,
hoarse, deep growls, they had ceased to
bay and howl; they were closing in on
us. l remarked one huge monster in
advance of the rest; his object being
evidently to leap into the sleigh from
behind. I fred-and missed him The
next moment his huge bulk came
scrambllng over the back; his paws
were on me; his fiery breath on my
cheek; and I expected, as l said a short
prayer, to feel the fangs of the abhor-
ent brute in my flesh. A lash Ia
crash IA gush of blood-and the crea-
ture tumbled backward, shot through
the throat to the spine by my brave
Lota =! Then I Piled the Ratchet, and
split skull after skull, while the sleigh
tore on; but was giving up ali nope,
and turning round to-oh, Heaven to
spare my darling a more hideous fate
when shots and shouts rang around,
and troops of dogs and hunters came
swiftly to our aid--and we were saved !!
Providence had directed the sleigh to
"Windy Gap" our firing reached the
ears of our friends and brought them
out in hot haste to aid us. We were
saved And as / bore her fainting
form into the hospital hall, and clasped
her tenderly to my breast, you may
guess how sincere was the gratitude |
i breathed in silence to Heaven.
1t was the prelude to a wedding,
which occurred soon afterward; and you
may be sure | never forgot my fight
with the wolves, how pluckily my noble
Lota backed me, or the somewhat
original but ap,opos mode in which I
told my love.