The national leader., 1889-02-02

distress, but there was no other way;
so. after providing him with bed of
boughs, l started off, and as had now
become expert in the use of those Won
derful skees. in less than an hour I had
made the trip and was back again.
Obeying Lars direction, I now cut
two birch saplings. having natural
crooks, for runners; and smoothed
them off with the axe. Then l bored
holes and put in cross bars. Upon
these I laid boughs and one of the
robes which had brought from camp.
The sled was now ready, and my
wounded companion managed to crawl
upon it.
The load was not very heavy after
getting under way over the smooth,
hard snow. We went on at a good
pace and had accomplished half a mile
from the place where the accident
occurred, when CHANGING to look back,
1 saw four or five animals about the
spot. scrambling and apparently fight
ing with each other. 1 mentioned 1t
to Lars. With an effort he turned to
look back.
''They're wolves" he said. ''Got to
camp as fast as you canl''
The brut tes had sneaked from some
covert In the timber as soon as we had
started, and were licking the blood off
the snow. They might even have been
in pursuit of the doe, the cause Of our
misfortune.
AS we had frequently seen them
while out trapping, 1 did not at first
feel much alarmed. But soon series
Of prolonged hoYls from behind
warned US that, maddened by extreme
hunger and tie taste of blood they were
in pursuit, and that others were join
ing in the chase, coming out from the
timber as we hurried along. I glanced
at Lars. His face was very white, but
he grasped his rifle firmly.
Inow fully realized our peril and put
forth my utmost efforts.
The country was half open here. l
heard that tits the habit Of wolves,
when in large numbers, to try to sur
round their prey. 1 was certain that
was what they meant to do if they
could come up with us. Morever, l
soon found that they were gaining, in
spite of my exertions.
We had covered hardly more than a
mile and half Of the distance, when
In going over some concealed shrub.
where the snow was shallow. the sled
broke through and threw me down.
thought it was all over with US
then, but was not entangled, nor was
anything broken. and scrambling to
my feet, jerked the sled out of the
snow and was off again IN twlnkling.
But the bowls Of the pack had come
fearfully nearer.
Fly to camp. mine friendl Fly to
campl Don't mind mel'' the brave
Norwegian now exclaimed. as we
dashed along. They'll have US both.
But drop me and you can get to the
camp"
"Fire back into theml'' L painted, for
1 felt ready to drop.
Lars managed to turn around and
discharged his rifle, and at this unex.
pected salute the Oncoming pack halted
for a moment. This gave us a little
time and 1 matte the most of it, yet we
had not gone fifty yards farther before
the troop were again in full cry; and
although he continued to fire as fast as
he could reload, the ravenous brutes
now paid no attention to the re-
ports.
But at last. and, as it Glanced, with
his final cartridge, he hit one of the
foremost OF the PACK. The creature
fell, and Immediately the others set
upon him after a manner OF wolves.
This again gave US little start. Yet
they quickly tore their wounded fellow
to pieces and we're after US again, more
greedy than ever, before we had got
out of their sight among the scattered
timber. Then thought of a fox
which we had trapped, and had tossed
under the robe beside Lars, at start
ing.
THAT foxr' I gasped. "Pitch that
outl''
Overheard went the precious gray
fox.
Then on-on--on, for life again.
But we were within twenty rods of
camp now, and with a fresh squirt
dashed for the door and reaching it,
ran inside, sled and all, at one final
leap.
The door was slammed to and
barred; and mad at our escape, the
hungry creatures dashed themselves
against it, like foaming sea wave.
But we were safe. 1 dropped upon
the camp floor exhausted.
Till nearly midnight the famished
animals ragged about the hut. Then a
little later we heard sudden and
most appalling outcry. But 1t was as
quickly hushed. The wolves had