The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-11

strides of ''Old Ben" as he led the way
across the lake.
An hour went by, and cold Ben" assured
us that we had made good four miles Of
our Journey. All about us was naught but
ice and sky. except to the northwatd. where
a long, dark line marked the forest, stretch
ing along the shore uf the lake. Once or
twice we had seen an air-hoe III the Ice,
around which the water l,y upon the sur
face for Il little distance !: but. otherwise
than this. our fo"thoId was as firm as the
solid earth. These places were easy
enough To be avoided. for we could see
them glitteriug in the starlight quite dis
tance away.
All at once the trapper, who still kept IN
advance, paused and stood in the attitude
of listening. We followed his example.
and remained mute ani motiouless. Then.
though as yer not sound had net oar ears.
"Old Ben" brought down his rifle upon lie
ice, and exclaimed. in vnce that caused
us a thrill of fear in spite of ourselves
.Wolves -
''Where? hear nothing'' said.
81 dou't suppose you do. youngstrr ;vnut
my ears have been trained to cate the
slightest sound. You'll hear them i'll =
minute. Hank -
This time |. too. heard sound tha;
wasn't to be mistaken. 4 low. lingering
howl came floating on the slight brreze ::
3tiu tIttl tlen away. ne next li'1ineiii "
WAS renewed toy what seemed from a hun
dred throatS, COMING from the dark forPs.
line to our left. while a hundred more or
as many echoes took 1t up ON the other
side.
There are lots Of the varmintS ont to-
night" said old Ben - aud | could not
help thinking that there was "A SPICE of un-
easineSs in his tone. 'A wolf is Il cnwaidly
criiicr. and dou't daIe to do much unless
there is a pack together. and then they are
very fieudS. hope they will give us a
wide beril, to night for. 70 tell the truth.
boys, we silould stand rather u poor sight
with them about us, and not Il tree to climb
into
"Do you think they will venture on the
ice - asked.
Cant tell. youngstpr. As said afore,
1t will all depend upnu how many there are
Of the varmints. At any rate. | think It
best that we use our legs as fast rs p"sSi-
ble.'
Another howl. thai, in spite OF all my
efforts To the contrary. seemed to freeze my
blood, sounded around us, and died away.
Only to be caught up as II were and re-
rearcd over aud over again.
"Come ou. bows" exclaimed the trapper,
as he struck ont at a quick pace that was
initiated as near as possible by frank and
myself.
efforts, Frank aud could not keep up the
pace assumed 10y the trappeI, n"twirhstand-
ing The howliug Of The wolves on every
hand grew louder and nearer each moment.
Ever aud anon '.Old Beu'' would east a
look backward /; aud even in The aim star
light we could see that the look of uueaSI-
ness we had seen upon his face had in
creased rather than diminished.
Cant you keep up. boys? he SAID.
his
/ ''l'm sorry for that. for we have got To dt
/ some quick walking, or else he torn t.
/ pieces by the fruds ON our trail. tlark
| That cry came from tile wolves az; the ice.
! aud not more than Il mile away Ii would
/ lave been best for us to have taken the
/ landlord $ advice, aud stayed with him to
night. But if the worst comes to the
worst. have got our rules. and we car
/ give the vaimiuts IA good pepper ing.
/ only hope the cnrrent where HE river flows
! into the lake is moi open. for IT it Is, | an
afraid the wolves Will cut MS Off
! Bru's words had the effect To excite us t,
| greater speed and fpr u time we kept ever
! with him but, in spite of our utmost eX
| ertinnS the hnwiing of the wolves sounded
nearer. aud we knew thai they we've on oII
! track aud gaining slowly upon us. Man,
! n haSiy glance we cast behind us. but IL
the dim twilight nothing WAS to bc seen %
! our pursnpiS. a few minutes moIe. aut
| the east lighted up. aud cIe long the moon
rose in uuclouded splendor, throwing
ioud Of light over the lake. One glanc'
backward NOW, aud our enemies were re
veaied in close pursuit. y long line -
dark. moving Officers we're behind us. and
to our horror, stretching out nn either hant
in The shape Of n crescent, as If the grea
| army Of ravenous wolves meant to enciI c
us. AWAY in advance. miles bel re uS
rose the dim outlines vt the forest tha
clothed the shore; 4; and there was our oul,
hope of escape "a forlorn hope, indeed.
Oars was now a race for life. an almoS
hopeless one it seemed to us, in spite q
the encouraging words of "Old Bru,
uttered. knew. to give us new strengii
aud courage. Every muscle was strained
to the utmost aud we flew the ice
our ears filed with the howlings of th'
hungry horde beiud us. 4 cloud hoatec
over the face of the moon, and its shadow
was thrown over us for few moments =
| and the gaze we cast behind showed only
u dark. moving outline at duSky figures ~
the ice, that every moment Ie>Se:icd th'
distance between us. Yet we hoped fn
life. and I,,oked forward with eager gaZ
| toward the dark outli of the forest stIl
miles before us. The cloud foated past
aud again a flood of moonlight envelope,
MS With a cry of dismay ''Old Ben
paused II. his heahlons course, aud by al
effort we did the same. close beside him.
| .'Wiia, is il - | asked
"L"rk yonder."
| followed the motion of his hand, art
my heait sank within me. and no longe
wondered at the exclamation that fell fion
his li,s. Before us. perhaps an eighth q
a mile away, lay long stretch of opel
water.
The current from the river" said sol
Ben" The landlord was right. and
fear it is no use To try further. We can
not go round. for they would be apon II
before We q 1t half the distance. But com
on. boys ; if worst comes tn worst. the coil
water of the lake is better than being tor
To pieces alive
''Old Brn'' sprang forward and we fo
lowed CLOSELY. The delay we had mad
had lcSscnpd the distance between VS. am
our enemies one-half. Another such