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


and my heart sank within me, and no
longer wondered at the exclamation
that fell from his lips. Before us, per
haps an eighth of a mile away, lay a
long stretch of open water.
"The current from the river" said
Old Ben. "The landlord was ri int,
and / fear it is no use to try further.
We can not 60 round, for they would
be upon us before we got half the dis
tance. 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 a 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
filled our ears. 1t seemed as though the
was Joined into one fendish howl.
"We 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 SO much as death by
these fierce animals"
"Can we do nothing with our rifles p
asked Frank. "Mine is good for half
dozen before I succomb to them or to
the waters of the lake"
"And what is that to the yelling pack
behind us?'' said the trapper. "But
quick-follow me; l 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 I will save you yet.
Shoot a 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 a 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 how ling 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 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; Ill
care for these" shouted Old Ben, as,
with his ak uplifted, he dealt his blows
right and left, and in less time than it
has taken to chronicle it, our raft was
free from enemies, and floating gallantly
out into the open water, that, instead of
our destruction, had proved our saliva
ton.
You may shout now, boys, for we
are safs!" exclaimed Old Ben, setting
the example himself; and we sent up
such a 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 conn.,
panions, and, by way of parting salute,
Frank and 1 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, was
not very cold, listening to the disap
pointed howlings of our enemies, and
in the early morning light We had the
satisfaction of seeing them sink away
until they were lost in the dark outlines
of the forest. Then we bade adieu te
our ice raft. thankful for our escape
which seemed to us almost like miracle
!