New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-28

| the acknowledged belle and queen
of the party, and Eric, my lover,
the most stalwart youth OF the.
country side. But all things, even the
pleasantest, must come to an end. So
when the shades OF evening began to
fall heavily, merging earth, sky and
water into one gray leaden cloud, we
began our journey homeward. Tired
out with my exertions, as soon as we
started nestled down among the soft
furs in the sleigh, and, rocked by it's
easy motion, soon fell fast asleep.
How long slept Iknownot; but when
awoke it was showing fast, and the
darkness so intense we could not see
hands breadth before us. called to
Eric, who was driving, and asked il
all was we'll. To which the answer
came back, half deadened by the thick
atmosphere. 'tAll well, but for Gods
sake try to keep awake
| So I aroused myself and sat up,
knowing that sleep in that bitter night
air might mean death. OF any other
fear l had no thought, for my
driver was skillful, while Thor
and Odin, our two sturdy lit
tie mountain ponies, knew their
| way home almost unguided Sud-
denly, and as listened vainly for the
echo OF our companions heels, Iheard
ano ther sound come up with the wind
"a long drawn, hollow moan. Twice
or thrice it came at intervals, this
weird noise, each time nearer and more
distinct. The third time the ponies
also heard it, for they sprang forward
with an impetus that almost shook
me out of the carriage. FRIGHTENED,
I said to Eric, "What, oh, what is
that?" And the answer came back,
short and stern: ''The Salten hounds!''
Then we began that, terrible chase
'sfor dear life'' which, though weshould
both live for twice our allotted span,
we never could forget. Swiftly we
sped along, our steeds impelled by ter
ror as great as our own, until they ap-
peared almost to fly. Breathlessly,
we hearkened, hoping even yet to leave
the enemy behind. But no; they tray
elled with us, gained upon us, nearer
and yet nearer-their cry growing per.
ceptibly from an uncertain vague voice
of the darkness into the unnistaka-
bly, wolf-like note. We knew from the
direction from whence it came that
they were tracking us by scent; now
our last poor chance lay in the dark
ness OF the night and our nearness to
Stor Aswan. Eric still held the reins,
and covered down at the bottom Of
the sleigh and prayed more earnestly
than l had ever yet done in my life
''for an increase of the snow-drift, or
aught, only a miracle, if it might only
save u.s."
On and On, for time that seems in
terminable yet might in truth have
been but a few moments. Then the
storm ceased, and we saw half mile
in our rear a dark line coming swiftly
and steadily down upon us. In the
middle of a white plain, with no nook
or corner visible wherein we could take
refuge, and st il nearly league from
home, our case looked hopeless enough.
So our pursuers seemed to think as
| they now caught sight OF us for
the first time, and lifting their black
muzzles from the ground gave. vent
to a howl of savage ejaculation.
could have screamed too. when l
heard it, for fright was driving me
half wild; it was so unutterably hor-
rible to perish thus. But glance at
Etc, so calm and steadfast, gave me
new courage. I felt that, come what
might, we should at least die together.
Faster and faster we flew like hunted
animals, death behind US coming on
apace. A few yards more and he
would claim us for his own. Already
I could hear the rapid breathing OF
our foes, see their fierce eyes and white
teeth glittering and cleaning in the
moonlight. Prompted by Eric T
threw out the bear-skin rug which pro-
tected us from the cold. For mo-
ment they paused, smelt at it, then
with fresh fury rushed after their old
prey. One by one, cushions, wraps,
all went over to the hungry pack,
each gaining us an instant's priceless
delay. As the last fell from my hand
| the foremost wolf bounded forward,
just missing my arm, while his strong,
cruel jaws met with a painfully
audible snap.
Then Eric turned and looked at me
"a long, loving glance and began
knotting the rains to the iron side Of
the driving seat. Instinctively divin-
ing his purpose Of giving his life to save
mine, I sprang forward, and cllnging
to him frantically, whispered:
| dearest, remember, westand or tall
together!"
A sudden thought, justified by our
dire extremity, flashed through my
| brain-it was at best a forlorn hope.
Quickly bent over Eric, snatched the
hunting knife from his belt and cut
loose the nearest pony. With an al
most human cry Of pain the poor ami
NAL galloped off, with the ravenous
| pack after it, A few strides only and
it was surrounded, overpowered, down,
and the last sounds we heard ere the
welcome lighUs OF Stor Aswan came in
sight were our bafHed enemies growing
and fighting over the remains of my
gallant little steed. It was cruel
sacrifice, but necessity knows no laws,
and by it we were saved.
In years after, as we sat around the
fire at "New Years Eve" with the
storm beating wildly, as now, against