Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-11-08
Race for Life.

In the winter of 1856, a couple of
Nicholas and Jules Semineau, were
caught by terrible suow-storm while
taking up their traps on the head of
Big Horn River, Ill the Rocky Noun
tains. The storm lasted for several days,
nor was there any hope of escape until
the snow should be compact enough to
bear their weight upon snoW-shoes.
The voyagers were yet striplings,
scarcely arrived at age. Hitherto their
father had accompanied them upon their
expeditions, but now he was at home at
his rancho on the great Overland route.
The lodge of the brothers consisted of
couple of Buffalo robes stretched in
front of an overhanging rock that over
looked the river. Here were slowed
their furs, neatly tied up in small bales.
made up principally Of the skins of
minks, otters and beavers, with a few
pelts of the silver fox. Over these were
laid robes which served them for bed.
A little fire was replenished from time
to time by the dry branches of pine and
cedar, of which they had fortunately
an ample supply Thus Nicholas and
Jules were enabled to pass the day
pleasantly, notwithstanding the raging
OF the elements without.
Up the canon through which the river
flowed, the wind sucked and roared
terribly.
The icy face of the stream was soon
cleared of snow, which drifted into the
lateral canons, gorging them completely.
In order to pass away the time, the
young men busted themselves in making
skates from the horns of an elk. The
art of skating they learned while boys
on the broad bosom of the st. Lawrence.
Their meat running short, Nicholas
concluded to have a run on his skates up
the river, with the hope of killing an
elk, which were numerous on the pine
covered slopes of the mountains.
Rife in hand, Nicholas started in high
spirits, gliding by rocky cape and frown-
ing promontOry, made by the sharp
bends and curves of the river. Where
the activities were gentle, forests Of the
yellow pine, cedar and juniper lifted up
their dark green heads, now burdened
with weight of snow. The quick gaze
Of Nicholas searched in every shelter
for the mighty antler of the elk, or the
blue coat of the black-tailed deer, the
best Of all venison.
ItWas not long ere Nicholas spied herd
of the latter, of which he had the good
luck to kill two. The saddle of these
he secured together, strapped them
around his shoulders, aud started on his
return home, distant about four miles.
Nicholas skated leisurely along, hum
ming light French air, when suddenly
his ears were struck by an unearthly cry,
hinh ha uA as fh.nv
of the mountain lion, and he could dis
tinguish, also, that the cries proceeded
from more than one. He quickened his
pace, his skates rang hard against the
solid ice. The cries became clearer, and
he instinctively felt that he was pursued
by the lions.
Fear lent Nicholas wings. He dropped
a saddle, hoping thereby to satisfy the
hunger Of the lions. He found presently,
however, that they made no halt. It
was the young man they ragged after,
and naught but his blood would appease
them. He now cast aside his remaining
saddle and his rife, and leaped forward
on his skates with all the power he pos
sessed. Nevertheless the beasts gained
rapidly on him. He could hear their
mighty bounds. At times he fancied
he could feel their hot breath. He
gazed over his shoulder, and that glance
revealed the lions, their blood red
tongues heaving over their jaws, while
their cries were as frequent as the baying
of a bloodhound. He was now com
PEELED to double on his course, the
weight Of the lions carrying them be-
yond him. Happily Nicholas preserved
his presence of mind, and by his skill
as a skater, combined with wonderful
activity, he eluded the efforts made by
the lions to seize--him, and drew slowly
toward home.
Presently, Nicholas saw the smoke,
curling from under the rocky shelter,
and as he shotpast, his ears were greeted