Morris tribune., 1880-11-04
A MARROW ESCAPE.


To buy him q new brown-stOne mansion.
w. A. CTofIt, 10 Detroit Free Press.
A MARROW ESCAPE.
During the winter of 1865, the writ
er was connected with a United States
survey company, engaged in re-making
ard stalking the international line be-
tween the upper British Provinces and
land belonging to the United States, near
the Red River Of the North, on territory
known at that time as Northern Mime
sofa. It was here that the following ad-
venture which am about to relate, oc-
Cured. 9
A company of three of us had been
sent by the chief to explore a medium
sized lake, through which the interna-
tional survey line ran. Our business
was to ascertain how much of the lake
lay within Uncle Sans limits.
We left camp about two o'clock in the
afternoon, and after a weary march of
| five miles through forest, our way OBJ
structed by logs and underbrush, we ar
rived on the shores of the lake. It was
dismal place. No habltations were
near-noth1ng met the eye but the level
stretch of ice upon the surface of the
lake, and a wilderness of tall pines,
spruce and birch, surrounding us on all
sides.
Some time was consumed in finding
the marks left there by former survey
ing party, and ascertaining the. course
marked out across the lake. But at last
this was accomplished, and we prepared
to start for camp, being at the lower end
of the lake, or the point furthest from
camp. One of my companions, whom
shall cali Leighton, had brought his
skates. I never left camp without mine,
not knowing how many weary footsteps
they might save me, for the country was
nearly one-third swamps and small lakes.
But the third man of our party had no
skates. He W as q good-natured, rollick-
ing Irishman by the name of Jimmie
Mcclure, and was what is technically
known as an axe man, that is to say, it
was his duty to be always provided with
an axe, for the purpose of blazing trees,
cutting poles, stakes, &c.
ping ours on, 1t was agreed that he
should stand before us with his feet a
little forward and praced for sliding, so
that we could push HIM along as we
skated across the four or five miles of Ice
that covered the surface OF the lake.
1t was coming on night or twilight, as
we started off, but full moon was ris-
ing, and we did not mind it, as we had
just finished hearty lunch OF cold ham
and bread that we had brought from
camp with us. IT was easy enough for
us to attain high rate of speed, and the
Irishman undoubtedly had never had
such slide before. The rate of speed
at which we pushed him along made his
boots smoke. 81
In less than fifteen minutes we ap-
preached the other shore and here we
slackened speed. Just then we saw some
kind of animals darting in and out
among the underbrush, like lot of dogs
at play. IS Isl "a
We stopped abruptly, almost pulling
Jimmy over backwards, and proceeded
to look more carefully. It was but a
moment or two, snd we ascertalned the
secret of the mystery, for one, two, four,
six large timber wolves presently came
out from the cover of brush. Five of
them raised their long noses and gave
vent to the long, bloob-curdling howl
with which all fron,iersmen are familiar.
"Holy father, we shall be aitenr'
breathed Jimmy.
1t certainly looked as if his fears
would be realized, for the wolves were
apparently very hungry, and we noticed,
with feeling of terror, that they in
tended to attack US on the ice.
"No time to be lost, Colonel" said
Leighton, excitedly. "We must put
back across the lake and go around
them.'' t.a # So g
Hastily getting Jimmy before us, we
turned and shot off with arrow.like
swiftness. But the wolves at once took
to the ice, and gave swift chase. They
slipped considerably at first, but
after getting under full headway they
made long, rapid bounds, and gained on
us every moment. Besides. Jimmy inn
peded our progress very much. Still we
strained every nerve, contested every
inch. A few moments more showed
that some new device must be attempted
or they would attack us. We could dis
tlnctly hear their short, painting breath
and the swift patter of their feet. ads
''Colonel, we must dodgep' said Leigh
ton, as he gave quick glance over his
shoulder. ssThey are right upon usl'' n
"All readyr I exclaimed. "Now to
the rightr' t..,s. s...-.,
And as I spoke, we made a quick
short curve. The result was more than
we expected. The wolves, Of course,
could not stop at once, but went sliding
by us on their launches, one of them so
near as to snap at my legs. But in turn
ing too short we upset Mcclure, who
went down in spite Of Us, else we should
have gained a fair start of the wolves be-
fore they could have stopped their mo-
mentum so as to turn.
AS it was Jimmy had ''slewed" around
when we turned, slipped from our grasp
and went sliding on his back in the d.
rection Of the wolves. Il. m ss.ss
As the Irishman rose to his feet the
wolves turned and rushed directly at
him, only few rods separating them
while my companion and myself were
several rods further away. 91ll1a 4
But we had no idea Of deserting the
faithful fellow, though the ssquel proved
that Jimmy was master of the situation,
and the hero of the hour, after all,
As the wolves sprang forward with
open Jaws fecked with foam, Mcclure