Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-26

thought. a. Il filed his brain, and trans
formed every ambition, passion, desire. !.
s.True." he said, % / have no quarrel
with those in thinc homo. Thou art .
husband and father--I had forgotten.
Get you gonc, 5vantsen my eyes are
opened now and I sec far ahead. Fly,
man, while there is yet time take these
pistols with thee, too, and remember in
tho days to come there was no evil be-
tween US at the end. Go, | say, the
horses are killing themselves"
He held up the weapons, and finding
that the driver wes too occupied to take
them from him placed both pistols at his
feet in the sledse, as Svsntsen answered |:
"Ssyst thou this? 2" he cried. By
Heaven, Skien, such an enemy IS thou
makest is worth q thousand friends
Leave thee, man I? Never Mount, l
command it; else / will shoot these
frantic beasts myself. God willing, we
shall yet sleep in our homes tonight; It
not, then together here" Eric hesitated
for brief moment The thought OF o
great sacrifice was strong within him,
but his old enemy would not be denied.
His will was as powerful as the Others,
and most assuredly both men must have
persisted had not Skien relented. At
last, therefore, yielding to Svantsen's
entreaty, he crawled exhausted upon the
hinder seat Of the sledge, and, not mo.
ment too soon, tho men were whirled
away together.
CRead without haste, the above duo
logue, il timed, would be found to take
two and half minutes In fact, how
ever, it barely occupied two.)
Five short minutes later the wolves
arrive upon the spot where the snow is
trampled and Skien's iootmarks cease.
Now they are racing, for the quarry
shows up black and clear against the
snow, little more than n mile ahead.
Let us once more hunt with the hunters
and watch with them as--their feet fall
ing like the pattering rnstle Of rain-they
came on, one hurting against another.
Their months are open, the hair upon
their backs is beginning to stiffen and
stand on end, their phosphorescent eyes
are fixed upon the flying sledge. A long
stern chase it has been, and seems likely
TO meet with q grand reward IL all goes
well. So yard by yard they get upon
better terms with the vehicle. True the
black horizon gradually changes into ir-
regular outlines of a pine forest; true,
also, beneath the trees CLEAN sparks of
red and yellow fire that suggest human
habitations, but Joksdal is distant mile
yet, whereas three hundred yards alone
separate wolves and men. Now long
pull, strong pull, apull altogether, and
newspaper
Like the bellows Of forge sob the
horses and need not the heavy whip,
though that now and again Kisses in the
air over their heads. Great Jets Of steam
burst from their gaping nostrils, and
they show the bloodshot whites OF their
eyes. Since Skien got upon the sledge
not another word has been spoken.
Svantsen drives with magnificent nerve
and Judgment, keeping the horses
steady, but getting every inch out
of them he can. If either comes
down it must mean certain death for
all Skien sits crouched up at the
back OF the sledge with his face to the
oncoming multitude and pistol in each
hand Nearer get the wolves and near
err. They are now going about twenty
yards III q hundred quicker than their
prey. The big sledge rug manufactured
from skins of their defunct kindred is
thrown to them; but what are dead
wolves coats as an article OF food COM
pared with the shining sides OF those
galloping animals, now only fifty yards
in front? 1t hardly stays them for q
moment
Joksdal is still nearly quarter OF
mile of. Svantsen iodels, and the clear
notes go echoipg forward to the village
and back TO the wolves. They give
tongue again in answer and strive each
to be alongside the horses before the
other. That last long-drawn howl may
save the sledge, for it has told those at
home everything. Svantsen sees lights
flashing 10 the distance and knows that
doors are being opened, dogs let loose,
and guns hastily snatched from their
places. twenty-five yards only now
between the sledge aud the foremost
wolf. Skien cocks his pistols and keeps
cool as q statue. Graabeen No. is
grand, determined fellow. believe me.
They look of one another, the man and
brute, and there is more expression now
in the VOLTS face than in the mans.
One. reckoning without his host, his
sharks eyes differing like stars, is d.
yided between an attack upon Eric or
the horses. The human being feels
pistol trigger under each forefinger and
waits, for it will not do to miss. Twenty
yards, eighteen, fifteen. then Svantsen
shouts to his comrade
"The dogs are coming
Skien does not answer and keeps his
eyes upon the foremost wolf. Ten yards
off he is now. The deep baying Of big
dogs and the shouts Of men mingle with
the cry of the wolves, the snort of the
horses, and the bells ringing on over
everything Then Skien feels the sledge
slacken speed and raises his arm not
moment too Soon. Graabeen No. | sees
a stream of fire dart towards him, feels
terrible blow in the chest, and falls
writhing, bleeding, and crashing bis
bCEAA III tic WIN oAOWs eSCAAo oAAOh1
his companions stop to do the last
honors to their old leader, but more than
half keep on. Skien shoots another. and
hurting his pistols with tremendous force
among them breaks the leg of a third.
Svantsen gives the horses their heads
and strikes at the long gray brutes now
streaming upon either side. Here come
tho dooa Of last Trash and fnIi of firhtinO
Twenty there are, il not more, all eager
for tussle with the universal enemy.
They rush into the wolves, and at the
same moment one of the horses comes
down with crash, struggles upon his
knees, falls again, shrieks, tries in vain to
rise, and rolls over beaten upon his side.
The other, breaking his traces and
lashing out, comes near Draining his
driver, but instead catches wolf which
has just jumped at Syantsen fair in the
chest, and hurls him back five yards.
Skiep has wound his coat round his left