Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-04

Il had rather seen thee than the truest
friend and strongest horse in Norway. At
last thou art in my hand. Rollo Svantsen.
Nay, stay thy horses, or l will do it for
tbee''
Fooll Thou do itl Couldst thou stop me
a year ago! Then think not to hold back
these mad brutes here by an act of thine
For answer Skien leveled pistol at the
head of the horse nearest him. The barrel
flashed in the moonlight like knife, and
Svantsen, choking in his throat the cry OF
horror that rose in it, pulled at the reins,
and nearly overturned the vehicle he drove.
This is no time for testing. manw he
cried Leap by me, and do it quickly, or we
shall both be lost"
land why notl Thou hast left me moth
ing to live for. Every thing that was good
to me in the world has heen taken by thee;
now it is my turn, and could STAY thee, but
that l had rather leave to those behind
While the horses were nearly dislocating
his shoulder joints, Svansten made an an
| swer:
Think not that l fear death any more
than thee. If thou willest that but one of
US shall reach his home I care not. plead
J not for my safety least of all at thy hands,
but others plead for it. The past is past,
the wrongs have done to thee are past, and
past atoning. Stay me if thou wilt, it is but
| justice; but be generous in thine hour of
| triumph. Save'thyself, Skien, Implore it
and see that what is in the siedge be given
| to those | leave behind. Declare, when
questioned, that fell from my place and
thou couldst not stay the horses to save
men
So he spoke, and great wave of feeling
passed through the others mind. Never had
| his heavy brain been so stirred, never before
had the possibility of nobler and heroic &C
tons entered them. Like dream picture,
as his enemy's words fell upon his ear,
he saw the girl at home nursing her baby,
saw the sledge dash through the village
street, saw the husband reel into the strong
outstretched arms of his friends, and the
wife's cry of thankfulness to God. That
was all; no vision of his own figure in the
story obtruded itself A flash of lightning
could not be quicker than the thought, as it
| filled his brain, and transformed every am
bition, passion, desire.
True" he said, II have no quarrel with
those in thine home. Thou art a husband,
a father-I had forgotten. Get you gone,
Svantsen; my eyes are opened now and l
see far ahead. Fly, man, while there is yet
time; take these pistols with thee, too, and
remember in the days to come there was no
evil between US at the end Go, say, the
horses are killing themselves
He held up the weapons, and finding that
the driver was too occupied TO take them
from him, placed both pistols at his feet in
the sledge as Svantsen answered:
'Sayest thou this!" he cried. by
Heaven, Skien, such an enemy as thou
makest is worth thousand friends. Leave
thee, man! Never! Mount, command it !;
else will shoot these frantic beasts myself
God willing, we shall yet sleep in our homes
tonight; if not, then together here"
Eric hesitated for brief moment. The
thought of a great sacrifice was strong
within him, but his old enemy would not be
denied. His will was as powerless as the
others, and most assured both men must
have persisted had not Skien relented. At
last, therefore, yielding to Svantsen's en-
treaty, he crawled exhausted on the hinder
seat of the sledge, and not moment too
soon, the men were whirled away together.
(Read without haste the above dialogue,
if timed, would be found to take two and a
half minutes. In fact, however, it barely
occupied two.)
Five snort minutes later the wolves ar
rived upon the spot where the snow is
trampled and Skien's footmarks cease. Now
they are racing, for the quarry shows up
black and clear against the snow, little
more than mile ahead.
Let US once more hunt with the hunters
and watch them as-their feet falling like
the pattering rustic of rain-they come on,
one hustling against another. Their mouths
are open, the hair upon their backs is begin
ming to stiffen and stand on end, their phos-
phorescent eyes are fixed upon the flying
sledge. a long stern chase it has been, and
it seems like to meet with grand reward,
if all goes we'll So yard by yard they get
upon better terms with the vehicle. True,
the black horizon gradually changes into ir-
regular outlines of pine forest; true, also,
beneath the trees, CLEAN sparks of red and
yellow fire that suggests human habitations;
but Joksdal is distant mile yet. whereas
three hundred yards alone separate wolves
and men. Now, long pull, strong pull a
pull altogether, and then-supper,
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 blood
shot whites of their eyes. Since Skien got
upon the siedge 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 to all. Skien sits crouched up
at the back of the sledge with his face to the
oncoming multitude and a pistol in each
hand. Nearer get the wolves and nearer.
They are now going about twenty yards in
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 compared with the shining sides of
those Ealloping animals, now only fifty
yards in front! 1t hardly stays them for a
moment.
Joasdal is still nearly a quarter of mile
off Svantsen jodels, and the clear notes
go echoing 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 every thing. Svantsen
sees lights flashing in the distance and
knows that doors are being opened, dogs let
loose and guns hastily snatched from their
places. Twenty-Five yards only now be-
tween the sledge and the foremost wolf
Skien cocks his pistol, and keeps cool as
statue Graabeen, No. l, is a grand, deter
mined fellow, believe me. They look at 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 glittering like
stars. is divided between an attack upon
Eric or the horses The human being
feels pistol trigger under each forsfiuger |
and waits; for it will not do to miss |
Twenty yards, eighteen, fifteen then |