Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-24
GaIes ann Sketfkes.
SKATING FOR LIFE.
By FRANCIS BLAKE ROWLAND.


woods was four and half feet on a level.
Along the river the drifts were deeper,
sometimes filling in over the bank more
than Is feet. There was no thaw to speak
of until about the 10Th of March, and that
could hardly be called one, as the weather
became cold and froze everything up again
so quickly. The river however had over
flowed and there was lots of fun tor US
youngsters on the glistening ice. So We
didn't mind the cold weather so much.
Not so with poor Granther, though, for
he slipped and fell on the glare ice,
spraining his ankle badly.
That in itself was not so very great a
misfortune aside from the pain, for we
children all loved the dear old man and
were ever ready to wait upon him, but
his traps set along the creeks up river
must be attended TO and the skins brought
home. He usually made his rounds every
10 days.
Never mind, Granther," said Sam,
Frank and can go up as well as not.
The skating is just splendid
Yes, yes, Granther, do send u.s. said
I. The old man smoked awhile in silence
smiling at our Impotence, then answered
slowly,
"Wal, don't keer if ye do. guess ]
kin give ye kinder chart so ye can find
en-"
hurried to the loft after the skates and
Tom found and sharpened the knives, for
if there were animals in the traps they
must be skinned. while Granther prepared
his "chart," marking carefully each creek
and crook, and the exact place where we
could find the traps. Father was away
down river and was not expected home
for a week, fact for which we were truly
thankful, for had he been there he would
have visited the traps himself. There
were but three settlers above us, each liv-
ing on the bank of the river about "A mile
apart.
The one nearest us was Hans Vanburgh,
a DutchmaD whom everybody 10 7ed tor his
good humor. The others only lived on
their claims in the summer. In the win
ter they lived miles away in lumber camps
where the women cooked food and the
men 'bossed'' lumber crew.
''Get home early, boys. Tant safe to
be out after dark. specially any distance
from the clearing. The wolves are thick
this spring and hungry, too, it has been
such hard winter" said mother as we
closed the door.
any wolves near the settlement. we
thought her over-anxious and did not give
heed to her words as we ought to have
done. The morning was splendid, warm
and springlike. John and George went
with US as far as Browns Greek (where
Granther had few traps set), to carry
home the catch in those traps If any
there We found two mink and some
three or four niuskrats in them which we
did not stop to skin, the boys taking them
home 10 Granther.
Alter setting and batting the traps anew
We started along up the river. The rest
of the traps were nearly ten miles from
our clearing, around the edge of a little
pond which was about a quarter of a mile
from the river. We reached there before
noon but concluded to eat our lunch of
bread and bacon before setting to work
then we skated to the farther end of the
pond. After that started on one side
and Sam on the other agreeing to meet at
the starting point Each one of Us had a
couple of knives and II pair of reviewers
besides our sharp keen hatchets. We did
not bring any rifles. it was so much cas-
Ter skating without them. and then there
were the skins to carry home. II was
nearly sunset when arrived at the place
agreed upon and Sam came in about ten
minutes after. We each had our furs
done up in a neat bundle and strapped
upon our shoulders. knapsack fashion, and
found them no light load either.
1t was dusk before we reached the river
and. skates securely strapped to our feet.
started for home. But we didn't care for
that. the ice was as smooth as glass and
the moon would soon be up. No thought
of wolves entered our heads. until we had
gone over five miles of the distance.
Sam was fixing his skate when we heard.
away away up the river, in the dark woods
we had Just passed, "a sound that made
the flesh creep over our bones--the long
drawn dismal. howl OF the grey wolf, the
call telling that he had scented the prey
and bidding his friends and neighbors to
the feast. So long as there was but one
We had nothing to fear, for wolf is too
cowardly to venture an attack alone. We
both knelt on the ice and examined care
fully every strap and buckle, then settling
our furs more easily on our shoulders
dashed away down the river. not however
before we had heard those long dismal
howls answered and reanswered from the
depths of the forest. and realized that to
our wits and good skates we must look
for our lives. We fairly flew over the
ice, and the noise made by our skates
rang out sharp and clear on the night air.
But fast as we went other feet were faster
yet. and before we had gone "A mile we
could plainly hear them pattering behind
us. oh il we had only needed mothers
fond warning and not dallied so about our
work.
CHANGING back over our shoulders as we
passed bend in the river we saw as many
as fifty the blood-thirsty brutes in eager
pursuit, while the woods echoed with the
bowls of hundreds more ready to join in
the chase.
.'Fire!" shouted Sam. wheeling and
snatching his revolver from his belt, while
he skated rapidly backwards. Fire at
the nearest Ones" and at the word the
leader. an animal a trifle fleeter than t1e
rest, tell upon the ice. Its comrades
paused only long enough to rend his tough
body and then came rushing on as before
We fired by turns hoping thus to delay
them more and save ammunition.
This we did repeatedly. but the time
gained only enabled us to hold our own.
the next moment they were after US again.
more savage from the taste of blood they
had Stunned IN snatch