The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-22
PURSUED BY WOLVES.
A Race for Life in a Russian Forest.

"And so, mine host, you wish to
frighten me with the old tabled 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, fair-haired young Englishman,
turned to his companion, who stood in
the rear and exhibited the respectful
familiarity of confidential servant q
man who had passed the prime of life,
but was yet hale and strong q thorough
picture of the true Muscovite.
81 will drive wherever the master
orders, was the quiet reply.
Good I knew that, Paulo. And
our host thinks to keep us here when
glorious welcome is waiting us at Grov-
onoff palace, only three leagues away,
by the fanciful story that the wolves are
ahont. Enr my own port should like
pot shot at them. But forgot, there's
Isabelle, and she might not care to ven-
ture"
"Don't mind me, Harry" replied
soft voice at his elbow, proceeding from
graceful young lady who had at that
moment entered the apartment, holding
i'll her arms an infant. 81 am as anx-
ious to reach the palace tonight as you
can be- Is not dear Alexis waiting for
me? You forget | have not seen him
these three months and baby here wants
to be presented to his father"
"Not a doubt" was the laughing re-
ply. "Well, we had better see about
starting. Paulo, get the sledge round.
"Will your excellency order the bells
to be taken off they attract the wolves"
interposed the host.
"Not ], indeed The horses would
not get along without them. 1t encour-
ages 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 them
selves comfortably in the sledge, let us
briefly explain who they are, that they
find themselves at Russian outpost late
on harsh winters night. Harry For
dyce, who has been on hunting tour
with his trusty servant, Paulo, thor
ough hunter and trapper, has appointed
to meet his sister on her way from Eng
land, where she has been spending the
summer, and escort her to her husband,
Russian noble, who, as governor of
district, is located on an outlying post
far removed from civilization. The Jour
ney has been accomplished, up to the
time of our meeting them, without acci-
dent; but, putting up to rest their
horses at a wayside inn, three leagues
from their destination, the landlord en-
deavors to persuade them from proceed
ing by informing 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.
-" then, Paulo, shake the rsins
AID we'll be off You are all right, Isa-
belle" turning to the lady, "perfectly
safe and warm, and the little onei"
queries our hero.
"Quite, thank you"
And waving his hand to the innkeeper,
Paulo shakes the reins, and the sledge
with its three horses dashes over the
hard snow with a 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 imperceptibly slackens the speed |
of his horses, allowing them 10 take
breath, as he knows that they may re-
quire all their strength before the forest |
is passed. With one hand holding the
reins, he looks calmly to the printing 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 in
tense 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 stretching out in its
whiteness, and in its winding and turn
ing looking almost like living serpent.
No sooner are the party well within the
shade of inhospitable and grim-lookine
trees, than Paulo begins to peer about
him, now forward, now to the right and
now to the left, and on the snow covered