The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-06
/. MISREPRESENTATION

darkness SO intense we could not see a
hands breadth before us. called to
Eric, who was driving and asked i!
all was well. To which the answer
came back, half deadened by the thick
atmosphere. "All well, but for Gods
sake try to keep awake"
So aroused myself and sat up.
knowing that sleep in that bitter night
air might mean death. OF any other
fear. had no. thought, for my
driver was skilltul, 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
another 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,
| said to Eric, What, oh, what is
that?' And the answer came back,
short and stern: "The Salten houndsl'
Then we began that terrible chase
"for dear life" which, though we should
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 APP
peared almost to fly. Breathlessly,
we hearkened, hoping evenyet to leave
the enemy behind But no, they trav-
| elled with US, gained upon us, nearer
and yet nearer-thei1 cry growing per.
ceptibly from an uncertain vague voice
| OF the darkness iato the unrnistaka-
| bly, wolf-like note. We knew from the
direction from whsnce 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 stu 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-d drift, or
aught, only miracle, if it might o.sly
save us"
On and on, for time that seems in
ferminable yet might i'm truth hape
been but few momentss Then the
storm ceased. and we saw half a mile
in our'rear dark line coming swiftly
and steadily down upon rs. In the
middle OF a white plain, with no nook
or corner visible wherein we could taks
refuge. and still nearly League from
home;our case looked hopelessenongh.
So Our purAlers seemed to think as
they now caught sight OF us for
the fist tire, and lifting the;r black
vlsxr- f,.rNry ha
to howl of savage ejaculation.
could have screamed too. when
heard it, for fright was driv vng me
half wilG3 it wtts so unutterabln hor-
rible to perish thus. But gance at
Etc, so calm' nd steadiast, gave me
new courage. eeit that, come what
might, we should at least die together
Faster ard faster we flew like ehunted
animals, death behind Us coming on
apace. A fsw' yamds more ant5i he
would clair, us fo.'his own. Alrersdy
could hear the rapid breathin. OF
our foes, see their fierce eyes and " site
teeth glittering anGu cleaning in the
moonlight. Paom9ted by Eric I
threw out the bear-skin rug which rro.
.ected us frora"the cold For a 1.o-
ment they paused, s1neis at it, tIten
with fresh furITusied after their old
prey. One by one, ousa5ons, wraps,
all went over to she hungry pack,
each gaining us an instapt's priceless
delay. AS the iassf fsll from my hard
the foremost wolf bounded iorwarl
just missing my arm. while his strong,
crael Jaws n1st with "a painful =
atgdible snap.
Then Eric tur.red ,asa, iooSesi at ne
-as long, loving glance-amd began
the driving seat. InstinetIve[y divir-
ing his purpose a5gipng has Life to say D
mime, sprang forw;ord, sDi cllnging
to him frantical2y, whispered:
Dearest, ren>aRDs1;. westaEld or ia L
Gegether,"
/. 4 sudden thocuot,,. Justified by our
dire extremity, .fasERd through mE
oraIn-it was as 1est ~ forlorn hope.
Quickly bert ever Eria, snatched tha
nu1ting kni1. fInnu als belt and cut
loose the nee resi- pony. With an All
most human. cl,wof pain the poor ani-
NAL galloped cs;; With the ravenous
pack after it lAfew strides only and
it was 1adn.yerpowered.d down,
and the last sounds we heard ere the
Sasome ligl ,us ID Stor Aswan came IN
sight were cur SaiIed enemies growing
and fightin,, OYER she remains OF my
gallant lit lie sseed 1t was a crue
sacrifice, but necessity knows ne laws
and by it I'VE wore. saved.
tn years afterr. as we sat around tiTe
| fire. at "N Jew Yeer's Eve" withrths
storm bea ting wildly, as now, against
tiiR casem ent, and the wintry twilight
CLOSING in, ournhildren would ask tt
:ienr "ont ,e more the oft told talero
the "Satt ten hoands or our flight ioj
4 dhar life"