The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-26


gone short distance from the shore. We
were DOW ready for work and for the
next few miles Frank and l had as much
as we could do to keep pace with the
long strides of Old Ben, as he led the
way across the lake.
An, hour went by, and Old Ben as
sured us that we had made good four
miles of our journey. All about us was
naught but ice and sky, except to the
northward, where a long, dark line
marked the forest, stretching along the
shore of the lake. Once or twice we had
seen an air-hole in the ice around which
the water lay upon the surface for lit
tie distance; but otherwise than this,
our foothold was as firm as the solid
earth. These places were easy enough
to be avoided, for we could see them
glittering in the starlight quite a dis
tance away.
All at once the trapper, who still kept
in advance, paused, and stood in the atti-
tude of listening. We followed his ex-
ample, and remained mute and motion
less. Then, though as yet not sound
had met our ears, Old Ben brought
down his rifle upon the ice, and ex-
claimed, in voice that caused us thrill
of fear in spite of ourselves:
evolves p
"Where? hear nothing" said.
"I don't suppose you do, youngster;
but my ears have been trained to catch
the slightest sound. You'll hear them
in a minute. Harkp'
This time I, too, heard sound that
wasn't to be mistaken. A low, lingering
howl came floating on the slight breeze; +;
and then died away. The next moment
it was renewed by what seemed from a
hundred throats, coming from the dark
forest line to our left, while hundred
more, or as many echoes, took it up on
the other side.
"There are lots of the varmints out to-
night" said Old Ben; and l could not
help thinking that there was spice of
uneasiness in his tone. "A wolf is a
cowardly critter, and don't dare to do
much unless there is a pack together,
and then they are very fends. hope
they will give us wide berth tonight /;
for, to tell the truth, boys, we should
stand rather a poor sight, with them
about us, and not tree to climb into"
"Do you think they will venture on
the ice T' l asked.
"Can't tell, youngster. As l said
afore, it will all depend upon how many
there are of the varmints. At any rate,
l think it best that we use our legs as
fast as possible"
Another howl, that, 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 it were
and repeated over and over again.
"Come on, boys" exclaimed the trap
per, as he struck out at a quick pace
that was initiated as near as possible by
Frank and myself.
Half an hour passed, and, in spite of
our efforts, Frank and l could not keep
up the pace assumed by the trapper,
Notwithstanding the bowling of the
wolves on every hand grew louder and
nearer each moment. Ever and anon
Old Ben would cast a look backward ;
and even in the dim starlight we could
see that the look of uneasiness we had
seen upon his face had increased rather
than diminished.
"Can't you keep up, boys?" he said
pausing moment for us to regain his
side. "Pm sorry for that, for we have
got to do some quick walking, or else be
torn to pieces by the fends on our trail
Hark! That cry came from the wolves
ON the ice, and not more than mile
awayl 1t would have been best for us
to have taken the landlords advice, and
stayed with him tonight. But if the
worst comes to the worst, we have got
our rifles, and we can give the varmints
a good peppering. 1 only hope the cur
rent where the river flows into the lake
is not open, for if it is, am afraid the
wolves will cut us off,"
Ben's words had the effect to excite
us to greater speed, and for a time We
kept even with him; but, in spite of oul
utmost exertions, the bowling of the
wolves sounded nearer, and we knew
that they were on our track and gaining
slowly upon us. Many hasty glanc,
| I'D
light nothing was to be seen of our pur
suers. A few minutes more, and thu
east lighted up, and ere long the mool
rose in unclouded splendor, throwing /.
food of light over the lake. One glanc
backward now, and our enemies were re
vealed in close pursuit. A long line O
dark, moving objects were behind us
and, to our horror, stretching out OIL
either hand in the shape of a crescent
as if the great army of ravenous wolve
meant to encircle us. Away in advance
miles before us, rose the dim outlines o
the forest that clothed the shore; ant
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 0
the encouraging words of Old Ben
uttered, we knew, to give us new strengtl
and courage. Every muscle was straine'
to the utmost, and we flew over the ice
our ears filed with the howlings of tn
hungry horde behind us. A clou
foated over the face of the moon. an
its shadows was thrown over us for fey
moments, and the gaze we cast benin
showed only daak, moving outline c
dusky figures on the ice, that every me
ment lessened the distance between IL,
Yet we hoped for life, and looked fol
ward with eager gaze toward the dar
! outline of the forest still miles before III
The cloud foated past, and again foo
: of moonlight enveloped us. With a cr
, of dismay Old Ben paused in his heac
long cnurpa and hu on affort ma did th