The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-05-05


and, to our horror, stretching out on
either hand in the shape of crescent,
as if the great army OF ravenous wolves
meant to encircle us. Away in advance,
miles before us, rose the dim outlines OF
the forest that clothed the shore; and
there was our only hope of escape
forlorn hope, indeed.
Ours was now race for life, an almos!
hopeless one, it seemed to US, in spite OF
the encouraging words of Old Ben,
uttered, we knew, to give us new strength
and courage. Every muscle was strained
to the utmost, and we few over the ice,
our ears filled with the howlings of the
hungry horde behind u.s. A cloud
foated over the face of the moon, and
its shadows was thrown over us for few
moments, and the gaze We cast behind
showed only daak, moving outline OF
dusky figures on the ice, that every mo-
ment lessened the distance between us.
Yet we hoped for life, and looked for
ward with eager gaze toward the dark
outline of the forest still miles before us.
The cloud foated past, and again food
of moonlight enveloped us. With cry
of dismay Old Ben paused in his head
long course, and by an effort we did the
same, close beside him.
"What is to" asked.
Look yonder."
l followed the motion of his hand,
and my heart sank within me, and / no
longer wondered at the exclamation
that fell from his lips. Before us, per-
hans an eighth of mile away, lay a
long stretch fopen water.
"The current from the river" said
Old Ben. "The landlord was right,
and l fear it is no use to try further.
We can not go round, for they would
be upon us before we got half the dis
lance. But come on, boys: if worst
comes to worst, the cold water of the
lake is better than being torn to pieces
alive"
Old Ben sprang forward and we fol-
lowed closely. The delay we had made
had lessened the distance between us
and our enemies one-half Another
such pause, and we should be battling
for our lives.
A few moments, and we stood Just on
the edge of the open water. The wolves
were close upon us, and their howlings
filed our ears. 1t seemed as though the
din came from thousand throats, and
was joined into one fendish howl.
ave can swim for it, boys, but fear
we shall stand little chance when the
water touches our limbs; but the cramp
is not to be feared 50 much as death by
these fierce animals"
"Can we do nothing with our rifles ?"
asked Frank. "Mine is good for a half
dozen before / succomb to them or to
the waters of the lake."
"And what is that to the yelling pack
behind us?" said the trapper. "But
quicas-follow me; | have plan that
may save Us yet"
A sharp point of ice -jutted out into
the current for perhaps twenty feet.
Upon this we sprang, and then Old Ben
exclaimed, keep me covered with your
rifles, boys, and 1 will save you yet.
Shoot wolf or two, and that will de-
lay them little.
We did as he told us. A simultaneous
discharge, and two of our pursuers fell.
In moment their comrades were upon
them, and they were torn into hundred
pieces while yet alive. Old Ben was
laboring like an OK. Thick and fast he
was tracing the blows, along where the
ice we were on joined to the main field,
and soon a lucky blow parted it. Again
we discharged our rifles, and then pushed
with all our might against the solid ice.
Slowly our ice raft moved out into the
stream; and, to our great joy, we saw a
dark line of water between us and our
enemies. We gave shout of triumph,
that caused the bowling mass, scarce a
dozen feet away, to recede for moment.
Don't crow, youngsters. You amt
out of the wood yet" said Old Ben
and his words were true, for hardly had
the shout died away before a half-dozen
hungry wolves sprang high in the air,
and three of them alighted among us,
while the others, less fortunate, were
foundering in the water.
"Shoot those on the bank, boys; I'll
care for these" shouted Old Ben, as
with his az uplifted, he dealt his blows
right and left, and in less time than il
has taken to chronicle it, our raft wal
free from enemies, and floating CALAMITY
out into the open water, that, instead Of
our destruction, had proved our saliva
ton.
"You may shout now, boys, for We
are safe!" exclaimed Old Ben, setting
the example himself; and we sent uT
such shout as that lake never heard
before, and caused the wolves to again
rush back in dismay. Those that had
fallen into the water regained the ice
only to be torn to pieces by their com
panions, and, by way of parting salute
Frank and sent volley after volley
among them.
By means of our snow-shoes We
padded our raft out to the center of the
open space, and there remained through
the night. which. fortunately for us wa,