The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-30

anchovy,or an olive, or some such prelimi-
nary tosomeimportant Observation-Disclosures
But now, ahead, there stands a solitary
tree, naked, save where, on its topmost
branches, the dark pine needles mingle in
one shapeless clump, or where, lower
down, dead cones still cling to the parent
Dough. In the rough bark at its foot are
flecks Of wool; but the sheep which rub
there in the summer are lar away just
now.
Something Of greater interest meets the
wolves here. Along the snow at the base
Of the tree, and running at right angles to
the course they have till now been taking,
extend two parallel lines, cut by the irons
of a sledge. One vehicle alone has passed
since the snow last fell but it appears to
have gone by quite recently, for the scent
is strong, and the pack take it up without
moments halt Now supper becomes
probability for where there is sledge
there is horse, perhaps two; where there
is a sledge there is also man; possibly
more than one.
Have you ever heard the bowling OF
| wolves?
have, seated in comfortable place of
| entertainment, with my mind at ease, and
certain knowledge that many iron bars
|
| Even under those circumstances, the
sound was one that made me turn cold
and wonder how nature had produced
anything so hideous. II is like nothing
but itself; you cannot compare or contrast
ii with any other cry OF living things;
gale of wind in the rigging OF big ship at
sea is the nearest approach TO II know.
Thin, hollow walls Of sound grow and
| swell and burst into one demoniac howl
| that embodies in its volume every con-
ceivable note of despair and eternal tor
ture. Then the crescendo dies-some-
times as though suddenly strangled more
often in long drawn shrieks that fade
upon the ear. There is music in their
cadences at times; those that heard were
fairy in tune-but such tune, such n
droning, nendish, whirling blast OF melody
II was. II the neither world has its own
music, that music should be the howl OF
hungry wolves-the frantic chorus whose
elimination is death TO flying singers, or
fleeing audience, or both.
So much for the wolves know; so much
for wolves whose hearts are broken and
whose sides have ached often enough
under the heavy whip OF their master. So
much for the tame wolves who do clumsy
tricks and have learned the beauty Of obe-
dience, forgetting, ut the same time, the
wntchword OF all wolves, that union Is
strength. Return we TO my pack, which
is moving like one big machine, and the
component parts OF which are together
giving tongue.
The snow. for them, is in perfect order;
but somebody ahead may perchancc find
his horses crushing through the thin
frozen surface at every stride. The dark
i Al l.t0Ns La
ahead may be praying for that moonlight
which, at present only shows silver
fringes on q black cloud. To them, their
wolf music is the dinner gong; but some
body ahead may hear nothing more beau
tifui than his own passing bell in the dis
tant Mutations, rising and falling and
coming over the snow.
Fortunately thought and pen travel
quicker than even gray wolves; therefore
though not knowing with certainty
whether II can catch US again before the
end OF the story-we will leave the racing
pack and draw level with the slcdge.
Here II Is, sure enough, ploughinp
through the snow and spinning out those
two parallel lines as II goes. The stout
brown horses are galloping steadily and
the solitary man sitting behind them does
not use whip or word nj present lie
} must be some miles nearer home ere the
last struggle begins, and he not only know,
the road well, but can also guess with toll
cradle accuracy at the distance which still
lends entertainments TO the wolf music II
= the darkness behind him. Physically
Rollo Svantsen IL o typical Norwegian
strong and in prime Of life. lie has beef
In passing peril from the wolves before 10
day; the rug now wrapped about him, on
corner OF which flaps and rustles In TIA
snow, is made OF wolf SKINS Tonight h
appears anxious, however; his horses ar
powerful but not fleet, and in his judy
ment. when the journey Is ended, Their
will be a very short quarter OF a mile be
tween bis sledge and its pursuers. A
though TO encourage him, the moon at las
rises free Of the far.strctchng cloud that
till the present, has hidden IL. clca
white light foods the darkness and tn
snowy plain begins 10 widen out upo
every side as the driver, rising IN his seal
casts one searching glance ahead, looks !
the fastening Of big lcathern bag whic
). IA tied 10 the floor OF the sledgc, and the
gaIes long and carefully behind him. le'
there they are, lust little dark shadow o
the waste, n shadow which one less %
pcrienced might have overlooked alt,
gcther, but shadow that Is moving hard
IL less quickly than those cast by the rae
Of broken clouds, drifting across the moor
What Svantsen had seen In front oil hi
~ was black line on the horizon and IA
ks finger post, still FAR ahead, where Nv
w roads met. What he had not seen. was
ik figure on feet, travelling toward that san
nv black line upon the horizon.
u The pedestrian Ii moving but slowl
- and has very little more running lett
he him. The snow retards every step, an
ny clogs Ia Jumps upon the heels OF his boot
NJ, There IL no track 10 20 by, but hc kcc
'as straight ~ he can for the tall finger pos
ne To reach the black line before those iiyiI
nv feet in the rear have closed with him,
NJ. he knows, impossible and yet hc Stage
en- forward. lie cannot help himself. III
be instinct Of slfprcscryaiion would ma
Il, him struggle on even though safety We
nj. 100 miles distant, instead OF scarce nv
And ON lac will drag his tired body tll
mr.. drops, OF till the wolves pull him down.
me Then comes--tliink Of 1.-THE sound
MI slcdgc.bells In his ears, the one eartl
IDS melody he knows that, In his present =,
Use strait, can mean succor aud salvation.
m. hccds Il not at first. The Norwegians
VS.. A superstitious folk. and our poor wfci
his thinks that tho night demons are abroI
-ow dancing In the drifting snow wrcat
tn, laughing at his agony and tuning the d
the tant howlings into the sounds OF bells.
sledgc-bclls do not always make mus
less There Il nothing 10 suggest pleasure Q
,re plumes and nodding OF proud equ
om. heads In the harsh jangle that now rusl
Al. 80