The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-03-24
PURSUED BY WOLVES.
Etg HVAE aS GAf sLEl
A Race for Life in q Russian Forest.

"Anl go, mine host. syou wish to
frightca mo with the old failed cry Of
sWolf; no, no it won't do You don't
suppose few cowarlly rnscals like your
wolves are going to frigliten two such
old hunters NS myself and Paulo, here :?
What say yon, Paulo ?p'and the speaker,
II tall, fair-haired young Englishman,
tarned to his companion, who stool i'll
the rear and exhibited the respectful
familiarity of a confidential servant q
man WHO Iiad passed the prime Of life,
but was yet hale and strong n thorough
picture, Of the true Muscovite.t 7s 10 3
~ will drive wherever the master
ORDERS" was the quiet reply. g. feE
Good l knew thai, Paulo. And
our host thinks to keep us here when a
glorious welcome is waiting us mt Gr0v.
onolf palace, only three Leagues away,
by the fanciful story that the wolves are
about. For my own part | should like o
Pot shot at them. sBntsI forgot, there's
Isabelle, and she might not care to ven:
tltre." E7H { 'g2 Lsi1To tffii ~ "
"Don't mind me, Harry, replied q
soft voice at his elbow, proceeding from
graceful young lady who had ut that
moment entered tho apartment, holding
in her arms M infant. 81 am ~ anx.
ious to reach tlln lMlacc tonight Ms you
cln be. Is not dear Alexis waiting for
me? You forget I have. mot seen him
these three lubntlis; mil baby here wants
10 be presented to his s'father."
"Not doubt" was the laughing re.
ply. "Well, we Ind better see about
starting. Paulo, get the slcdge round. '
"Will your excellency order the bells
to be taken Off; they attract the wolves"
intcrpOscd the host.
"Not I, indeed. The horses would
not get along without them. It cncour-
ages them besides, I like the music OF
the bells on the frozen air; and il the
wolves are to come, they come, bells or
not" 1855
The innkeepcr bowed anu Withdrew.
Now while tho party aro settling them
selves comfortably in the sledgc, Let us
briefly explain whs they are, that they
find themselves ut n Russian outpost late
Oh harsh winters night. Harry For
dycc, who Inns been on hunting tour
with lis ;trriSty servant, Paulo, thor.
ough hupter and trapper, has appointed
to meet his sister on her why from Eng
land, where she has been spending the
summer, ;and. escort her to her husband,
n Russian noble, who, rs governor OF n
district, is located on an outlying post
fur 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 waysitle 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 palaceis infested with a
puck of wolves-but the answer to this
has already been gwen. = .e. .fs5.f
"NOw then. Paulo, shake the rsins
and we'll be of. You aro all right, Isa-
BELLE" turning to the lady, perfectly
safe mud warm, and the little one"
queries our hero. ssr O. -n5.ysE
"Quitc, thank you." = +sT.-
And waving his hand to tho innkeeper,
PaulO shakes the reins, md tho; slcdge
with it's three horses dashes over the
hard snow with II speed and ease hardly
e0ualcd by any other conveyance in the
world, and Mt this pace the pine wood is
ncarel. Bnt 4HHulO is an old hand, and
almost imperceptbly slackens the speed
OF his horses, allowing them to take
breath, M ho knows TINT they may re-
quire all their strength before the, forest
is passctl.s With one hand holding the
rcins, lid looks calmly to tho priming Of
n pair Of rcvolves and then, quietly
leaning over to, his master, whispers in
his earss Y, EstE4s.G. Z 1tIS ~
can right" is the sole response, but
the young EnglishmRn Us quietly looks
tothe adjustment Of q breech; loading rife
which has hitherto been concealed by a
fur rug, and brings his cartridge belt
nearer TO his hand. 7zEypAr5 pr u
The forest is entered by this time, and
tho deep 'shatle thrown by the gigantic
pines creates q darkness almost as in.
tense us TINT Of night to tho party who
hive Just come out Of the glare Of the
snow; tho one relief to tho solemn shade
is the long rOad stretching out in its
whitencss, aud in it's, winding and turn.
ing looking almost like n living serpent.
No soohof are the party well within the
shade Of inhospitable and grim-looking
trees, thpn Paulo begins 70 peer about
him, now forward, now TO the right and