The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-27

when he spraug out into the snow, he
advanced nearer abreast the horse than
did the others. Upon this gaunt crca-
turo Ilenreich fixed his eye, and caught
the green light that played from his
cyclids.
By and by the snow became aaftcr.
and the huge wolf again sprang aside.
The speed of these animals is exiraor-
dinary, and he gained rapidly. Helm
rich waited until he got lust abreast,
when, rising in his scat, he circled the
halcbet over his head and brought il
down with the quickncss of lightning.
The head of the wolf was cleft in twain.
and with dying yclp he doubled over
IN lhe snow and was quickly left be-
hind.
One of the dreaded animals was dis
patched. Three were left as furious
for blood as ever, and these never abat-
ed their speed in the least. Had they
got taste of the blood of their compan-
ion they would have gagged themselves
on him before seeking the horse; but
he wbisked off the stage of life so sud-
denly that they scarcely noticed his alb
'ence.
The distance from home was rapidiy
diminishing beneath the quick steps of
the mare, which continued to carry the
sled at full speed, until the fear of over
turning became again source of snxi-
ETY.. Heinrich, TOO, had learned by
this time that these were no ordinary
animals with which he had TO deal. but
sharp-set, fiercely courageous and de-
tcrmined brutes, to which man or beast
would be alike welcome, their prefer
cnce, however, as manifested by their
actions, being for horsefesh.
These were not the animalf TO be
frightened away by the sight of mans
house, and there was bad open space
between the outskirts of the forest and
Henreich's home, to which he looked
with 10 little apprehension.
They had now app cached the very
edge OF the wood, and the wolves began
gaining OH each side. The terror
stricken horse became uncomfortable
and, bounding tcrrilically forward
caught the sled against the stump of n
tree, overturned it and galloped away
at full run, leaving Heinrich alone in
the snow.
Before he could rise, he felt the
brutcs clawing at his throat, but his
garments were SO thick that he was saw
ed from injury, and, rising to his feet.
threw them off. His hatchet had been
ierked ont of his hand as he fell. aud
he looked desperately around for il.
but it was not 10 be found.
BY this fine the mare was almost
out of sight, aud two of the wolves
were upon the defenseless man. and tho
other, deserving the animal. boundrd
back. IIenreicl faced the foremost
and the next moment was surrounded
The powerful man now called intn
play all the strength for which he was
50 renowned. He struck furionslv n,
ihc lelping. snaring brutes and flnno
them of when they attempted 70 clInS
TO him. Had he possessed a weannn
even a club, il is not impossible that bc
would have saved himself. One blow
with club in his hands would have
cracked the skull of the largest brntc
and with knife he could have rippcd
them open.
But there was 10 hope, fighting with
his naked hands. His blood had al
ready dyed the snow. and the smell and
taste of il made the brute furious.
Their 1.-the, heavy bodies were hurled
against him, as if impclled bv some
power not their own, and finally they
pulled him down.
The sweets of this earth, the mystery
of heaven, swept through poor Helm
rich's mind; nay, in those brief. terri
Bile moments, the particulars found time
to intrude. II is often, very often, thus
in the moment of death.
lie thought how his devoted Mary
would watch thr rlugh the vigil-how
his mangled remains would tell his tate
in the morning-a lile's despair for the
mother of the helpless little ones. All
these things rushed through his brain.
and he knew that he himself was in the
jaws of the wolves.
Then those foul, lurid eyes glared
over him; the tightening of the throat
followed, and thinking was finished
Still he struggled to release his arms
the grasp on his throat was choking
him: his senses reeled; when, like the
whizzing of meteor, another hard.
breathing animal shot in among the as
sailants and fastened itself on the chief
The wolves for an instant reloxod
their fury: Heinrich reelcd uiddv r.
his feet. and recognized his brave doc
For moment he stood bcwildered
when he saw the wolf retreatinp, anf
the other two attacking his dauntles,
dog. He turned TO help him. and ,
bright object caught his eve: IL was hi
hatche. living on tie snow, within a,
arms length of the last terrible struo
gle. Heinrich snatched il IN. and WI
himself again.
His arms were bleeding. but ,bci
eiant strength remained. The nevt in
slant he had split the skull of one Of th,
, wolves. and now he tnrncd lilo tb,
madmnn that he was, upon the fierc
al'i,n"l UNA. 9au oorhe MS faithful doi