The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-25

u
points scintillating like so many
diamonds. | instantly realized my
danger. was surrounded by wolves
To hesitate was death, and mounting
my horse, that was trembling with
fright, | drove spurs into him and we
darted off through the only opening in
the Gordon which nearly surrounded
me, and swept across the plains with
out regard to the direction, my only
object being to escape the fangs of nv
pursuers.
The wolves as soon as they dis
covered my flight, with renewed howl
more full of rage and horror than
that which had wakened ME, started in
full cry, and the terrible race began.
gained considerable, as my horse was
a good one, and his fright seemed to add
to his lightning speed. Miles seemed
like feet, and, after perhaps half
hour passed. upon looking back
| saw that the distance from the
foremost of my pursuers was the same
as at the start. To keep this distance
till daylight seemed my only chance,
yet what hopeless task! No horse
could long keep up the terrible strain
which mine was enduring. Suddenly
the faithful animal stumbled over low
sand dune and fell to his knees, throw
ing me to the ground. In an instant
the hungry pack were upon me, and
imagined Ielt their fangs already
buried in my flesh. Fear lent swiftness
to my movements, however, and / re-
mounted and was off just as the leaders
were about to pounce on ME. Ny horse
soon began to show the effects of his
terrible efforts, and thinking to gain
time, threw away the blanket which
had hastily thrown over the horse at the
first alarm This gave me a slight ad-
vantage for time, as no sooner did it
touch the ground than it was torn into
shreds by the hungry brutes. This de-
lay gave me a small advantage, but |
soon perceived that was losing it, and
my horses movements became more
laborcd. | next sacrificed my overcoat,
then the coat which [ wore, which in
turn suffered the fate of the blanket. |
The horse began to show signs of ex-
haustlon, but he still kept his feet, but
realized in short time my fate was
sealed, unless a miracle was inter
posed to save me. The wolves
were already swapping at nv
horses heels, when upon look |
ing up saw lights in front of me.
perhaps mile or so distant. | endeav-
ored to urge my horse to further efforts,
but without avail. The poor animal
was breathing heavily and could hardly |
keep his feet. The maddened brutes |
were jumping and snappiug around |
me, and | had struck several of them |
down with the butt of my rifle, after |
having exhausted the ammunition in
shooting at them. | turned and found |
myself within a few hundred feet of a |
house and an incloSure. Making last |
despairing effort, my horse cleared the
fence and felf dead on the inside. At the
same moment several men came out of |
the door of the house with lanterns,
aroused no doubt by the unearthly
sounds, l was quickly dragged inside, |
and Immediately swooned, Upon re-
covering consciousness it was broad |
daylight, and found myself in the cabin
of ranchman, within half a mile of |
the station whence | had started in the
morning, lying on a rude bed, with q
man sitting near by and watching me.
1t seems that my horse, guided by in
stinct, had taken the straightest direc-
ton for the place from which we had
started. | learned by Inquiry that the
wolves had surrounded the house all
night long, filing the air with their
fearful bowls, and never departed until
daylight. | was too i'll from the effects
of the fearful experience l had under
gone TO leave the house until Yesterday,
and / came to Denver for rest and re-
."-D1nUer Nca0S.