Omaha daily bee., 1884-04-23

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tent and scolding, while Sam got dow
and tramped through the intcrminabl
rows of black pillared Trunks, scskin,
sainly for some landmark
they're all 80 confounusdly alISeI hi
mute ed, scrambling to his seat III
only the stars would outl
How far have you gomez
Ten mile-or mebbe five. This hyal
snow is so blindin' n confusin'-hesi
tated Sam. Gee up up nowl whipping
up his four horses with n faint show of
energy.
They made a start and then stopped,
the leaders giving Il neigh of terror.
Heaven help usi cried Sam. A far-of
ny, like siirill yelps, was heard. My
.atl y started up.
Don't be uneasy, Jane, he said quietly
I am & ing out on the box with Sam.
Keep the children quiet, If possible,
Don't let the baby cry.
What is it, Charles?
Oh, no matterl Lynxes catamounts
some miserable wood vermin.
The next moment he was beside Sam
Drive for your life. They are no cayotes
they nre tho great gray wolScsl
l know it; they have been 10 the
WOODS all WINTER.
That's what Joe mcant2
Yes, when you wouldn't listen.
But it was no timo for recrimination.
The horses, urged by terror, needed no
whipping. They dashed forward. The
coach, rack:ng to and fro, dashed vio-
len,ly at times against the trees. The
cries of Eie wolves drew nearer. They
were upon us! They leaped upon tho
coach, hung upon the boot, ran yelping
alongside.
My father had placed a pair of pistols
in Sans hands. Both men fired alter
nately. But they had to stop to load,
for it was before the day of revolvers.
One fierce red eyed brute sprang upon
tho window, from which little Mary,
escaping from my mother had thrust
cut her head. My father fired, and he
fell back on the yelling pack below.
They stopped n moment to tear him to
pieces, and for that moment the coast
was clear.
Then they came back with fresh fury.
One of the horses gave u yell, human in
agony.
It's Susy cried Sam. They've torn
leaders. My father drew his knife, and
WIN Si.se iiSh, Siept aionB VIC Poie pe-
tween the running wheel-horses, and cut
Tho dying horse dropped on one side Of
from him and fed through the woods.
These twoll not take lis in, saiG Sam.
No. But we'll fight every men.
The wolves had gathered about the
fallen mare. The moon began to rise.
and showed their number. My mother
declared there were thousands Of them.
Blu. she was not in a condition to count
very accurately.
The two wheel-horses dragged the
coach about half q mile. Then the pack
up again, leared on their launches,
and tore the POOR brutes so that the flesh
hung in great st,irs. 49,.
Cut Down another horse. That will
keep them back ten minutes, said Sam,
1ith white lips and staring eyes. He
lac fought silently ard bravely. But he
was thinking now Of his wife and baby.
That would DO to burn our ship Sith
a vengeance, said my father. What
would ne do Them
Bring the women and children to the
top of the stage and fight until our am
mnnitiOn's gone.
l have two charges left.
Then we are lost!
At that moment ny mother, who mad
NOT uttered a srHnd before, cried out.
A wolf had Ldped half into the window,
and We eGratching to get into the coach.
Ny father shot him dead. He was not
likely to miss his mark with that sHot.
And now the black swarming beasts
,prang heallong on the horses. Thes
staggered and fell.
1t is al over, muttered my father.
But my mother, who had been pray.
ing inside, was not so sure of that, Just
then came a frightful noise o. shouts,
horns, guns firing, dogs barking. The
wolves paused, pricked their ears
turned, and suddenly scattered through
The freed leader had fortunately out
run the wolves, and had reached Lam
sing and coming to the hotel, his bloody.
torn sides and cut traces had told the
story. In FIVE minutes, every man and
how in town was out to hunt wolves.
I've were but two miles from the vii
LACE. 60 that We slept in our own house
nat night after all, and from every other
house in the town some little token of
was sent to make our sleep the
happier.
My father was a changed man from
that day-a tender, considerable husband
and father. So that the night with the
wolves brought a blessing in the morn
ing, as the dark hours in life often do
IL He'd H. HI.~v