Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-21

ing Irishman by the name Of Jimmie
McGnire, and was what IL technically
known ~ nm axe man that 10 10 say, u
was his duty to bc always provided with
IN axe, for tho purpose Of "blasiog"
trees, cutting poles, stakes, etc.
Jimmy had no skates. no after strap.
ping ours on, 1t was agreed that no
should stand before IN with his feet .
little forward, and brsced for sliding.
30 that we could push him along ~ We
sknted across the four or Ave miles
Of ice that covered the surface of the
lake.
II was coming on night, or twilight,
% We started of, but q dull moon was
rising, aud VIZ did not mind II, ~ We had
Just finished q hearty lunch of cold ham
and bread that W. had brought from
camp with ~. II was easy enough for
us to attain u high rate ofspeed, and the
freshman undoubtedly never had sucl'
slide before The rate Of speed ut which
We pushed him along almost made bis
boots smoke.
In less than fifteen minutes We ap-
preached tho other shore, aud here W.
slackened speed. just thcn WI saw some
kind Of animals lartiDg in and out
among the uuderbruslt, like = lot Of dogs
at play.
We stopped abruptly, almost, pulling
jimmy over backwards aud proceeded
to look more carefully. 1t was bnt .
moment or two, aud we ascert aimed 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 their long, blood curdling howl,
with which all frODticrsmen are ia
mlinr,
"How]y Father, we shall DO aitenv'
brcathed Jimmy,
IL certainly looked ~ II his fears
would be realized, for tho wolves were
apparently very hungry, and We noticed
will, u feeling Of terror that they in
tended to attack us on the ice.
"No time 10 be lost, Colonel" said
Leighton. cxcitedly. 1--WE must put
back across tho lake, and 90 around
them"
Hastily getting Jimmy before rs, We
turned aud shot off with 1rrowlike
swiftness. But the wolves ut once took
10 tho ice and gave swift chase. They
slipped considerably ut first, bnt after
, getting under full head way, they made
long, rapid bounds, and gained on ~
every moment. Besides, Jimmy impeded
, our progress very much, Still. We
strained every nerve. contested every
inch. A few minutes more showed that
3 some new device must he attempted
, or they would attack MS. We could dis
3 tnctly hear their short, painting breath,
and the swift pattcr Of their feet.
Colonel, we must dodge" said Leigh
i ton, as he gave quick glance over his
, shoulder they are right upon u.s.
Gan readyw l exclaimed. 'Now to
i. tho right"
j. And as l spoke we made quick, short
O curve. The result was more than We
9 expected. The wolves, Of course, could
not stop at once, but glilcd by us on
their launches, one of them 80 near az
to snap at my legs. But in turning too
short we upset Mcclure, who went down
in spite of us, else We should have gained
,r fair start of tho wolves before they
r could have stopped their momentum 20
III as to turn.
NJ As it was, Jimmy had "slewoW aroun(
D. when we turned, slipped from our grasp
10 and went sliding on his back in nearly
~ the direction Of the wolves.
O. As the Irishman rose to his feet tb
d. wolves turned aud rushed directly q
&C. him, only few rods separating them
while my companion and myself wsr'
b" several rods farther away.
IL But we had no idea Of DESERVING tb
a. faithful fellow, though the sequel proves
10 that Jimmy was master of the situation
80 and the hero of the hour, after all.
As the wolves sprang forward wit
H. open jaws, flecked with foam, McGuir
VI unstrapped his trusty AK from his bach
w. and posed it for blow. The Opportt
." nifty was at hand. A long, gaunt wo
40 rushed forward, and made spring d
''o rectly at him. With swift circle of b
'e' ak, he fairly split the brute's head i
'n' twain. Another wolf quickly followe
co. and the invincible ak crushed in
D." skull. The next wolf wavered ar
seemed inclined to back out but Jill
20 my's blood was up, and, with q quit