The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-09-07
Select Story.
PURSUED BY WOLVES.
A RACE FOR LIFE IN A RUSSIAN FOREST.

And so, mine host, you wish to frighten
me with the old fabled cry of wolf :; no,
no it won't do. You don't suppose few
cowardly rascals like your wolves are going
TO frighten two such old hunters as myself
and Paulo, here ? What say you, Paulo ?"
and the speaker, tall far-haired young
Englishman, turned to his companion, who
stood in the rear and exhibited the respect
ful familiarity of confidential servant /;
man who had passed the prime of life, but
was yet hale and strong a thorough picture
of the true Muscovte.
81 will drive wherever the master orders"
was the quiet reply.
Good knew that, Paulo. And our
host thinks to keep us here when glorious
welcome is waiting us at Grovonoff palace.
only three leagues away, by the fauciful
story that the wolves are about For my
own part should like spot shot at them
But l forgot, there's Isabelle, and she might
not care to venture"
Don't mind me, Harry" replied soft
voice at his elbow, proceeding from grace
full young lady who had at that moment
entered the apartment, holding in her arms
an infant. 81 am as anxious to reach the
palace to. night as you can be. Is not dear
Alexis waiting for me2 You forget have
not seen him these three months and baby
here wants to be presented to his father"
mot a doubt" was the laughing reply.
"Well, we had better see about starting.
Paulo, get the sledge round"
will your excelency order the bells t.
be taken off; they attract the wolves" in
terposed the host.
mot l, indeed The horses would not
get along without them 1t encourages them;
besides, | like the music of the bells on the
frozen air ; and if the wolves are to come.
they come, bells or not"
The innkeeper bowed and withdrew. Now
while the party are settling themselves
comfortably in the sledge, let us briefly ex-
plain who they are, that they find themselves
at Russian outpost late on harsh winters
night. Harry Fordyce who has been on a
hunting tour wi h his trusty servant Paulo,
thorough hunter and trapper, has appoint
ed to meet his sister on her way from Eng
land, where she has zen spending the sum
mer, and escort her to her husband. Rus.
sian noble, who, as governor of district, is
located on an outlying post far removed from
civilization. The journey has been accom-
plshed, up to the time of our meeting them
without accident; but, putting up to rest
their horses at wayside inn, three leagues
from their destination, the landlord endeav.
ors to persuade them from proceeding by in.
forming them that the pine forest which lies
midway between the little village and the
palace is infested with pack of wolves
but the answer to this has already been
given.
Now then. Paulo, shake the reins and
we'll be off You are all right, Isabelle, u
turning to the lady, "perfectly safe and
warm, and the little one ?" queries our he
70.
quite, thank you"
And waring his hand to the innkeeper
Paulo shakes the reins, and the sledge with
its three horses dashes over the hard snow
with speed and ease hardly equaled by
any other conveyance in the world, and at
this pace the pine wood is neared But
Paulo is an old hand, and almost impercep-
tibly slackens the speed of his horses, allow
ing them to take breath, as he knows
that they may require all their strength be.
fore the forest is passed. With one hand
holding the reins, he looks calmly to the
priming of pair of revolvers and then,
quietly leaning over to his master, whispers
in his ears.
"All right" is the sole response, but the
young Englishman as quietly looks to the
adjustment of a breech-loading rifle which
has hitherto been concealed by fur rug,
and brings his cartridge belt nearer to his
hand.
The forest is entered by this time, and the
deep shade thrown by the gigantic pines
creates darkness almost as intense as that
of night to the party who have just come
out of the glare of the snow the one relief
to the solemn shade is the long road stretch
ing out in its whiteness, and in its winding
and turning looking almost like a living
serpent. No sooner are the party well with
in the shade of inhosptable and grim-look-
ing trees, than Paulo begins to peer about
him, now forward, now to the right and now
to the lett, and on the snow covered ground,
but evidently he sees nothing to alarm him,
when suddenly he exclaims "Hah p and
gives the reins that he has been holding
in his hand shake that seems to send q
thrill through the horses, who have also seer
or heard something that they do not like
for they throw back their ears, and the thirb
spume fakes fly from their mouths as they
chafe at the bits.
Isabella, who has been doing, suddenly
opens her eyes at the jerk which has beer
given to the sledge, and in accents of terror
exclaims "What are those eyes amongs
| the trees ON the hill 2"
No need to ask a second time, as tn,
hoarse howlings, which had been but NUT.
terings mingling with the signing of the
wind through the leafless branches, now
swell into a loud chorus, and pack OF
wolves dash from the trees after the sledg,
and its inmates, and then ensued race fo
life indeed. The horses were as sensible o
the danger as their human freight, ant
plunged along with all the speed of thorough
bred animals. Attracted by the cry of tn,
child and the alarming shrek of its mothe
the fierce pursuers came up on that side o
the sledge nearest to them, and seemed de
termiued to leap into it, They were clos
alongside, their hot breath could almost b,
felt, while the glare of their fierce-lookinI
eyes was terrifying. At this moment Paul
pulled out his revolver and fired, and tn
one nearest the side rolled over and bit tn
dust in his death agonies, bat the others
nothing daunted, leaped over the body G
their dying comrade and kept up the chas,