Telegram-herald., 1889-11-20

fatheF. II czat les yoa Fis2 yo-r Aie
u szEs 1lne
Il aust g. father, II there were forty
wolves IA ~ say TIE boy zneit down
b. as fathers side and s-roked the cod
haad IT'S dreadful - leave yol -
here he n-arIv bre ze down. b-I managed
~ eloks baeE the rtsiag sohs s-ili- -
the 0Rly slT f0u IiZht de ~lt1oui
help. sa1 st coaid Z say - mother.
Keep - yo-r courage, father. We
nxed TIE are 20 that II vii last. and
here ; the coffee right - Fo-r eLbo~.
I'll bs back soon Here tae boy
bre4thed the prayer. God EelP me-
Ia = moment more Tom had fastened
the t0or xith a stout staple ana ~as
kneelinZ by the axe, buekhng on Dis
skates. As be glidsd from the shores
be east hurried glance around. Both
his eyes and ears were strained e the
utmost How black the shadows were
along the shores, Ho~ sharp was the
''cIick. click. OF the skates. as they car
ried him on with the steady motion OF 4
machine! The river vas soon reached,
ana the hslf-mile over its frozen surface
Vas easily made. as were the TWO miles
across the little pond When he fol-
lowed again the frozen course Of the
river be skated backward. as his face
Das benumbed from going against the
wind. lie stopped several times for
breathing spells. SO that he felt quite
rested as be swept out Of the river 20 the
smooth, level floor OF The great lake, az
the lower end OF which was the hunters
cabin For two siles down the lake
Ton skated quite slowly, as he vas
keeping his strength for the hnal dash
With body erect. head thrown back and
arms crossed n his chest, he glided IN
long, easy curves. now 70 the right, now
10 the left As he reached the shelter
of . little island he paused for short
rest. Then he buckled on his skates
more frmly. but just as he VAS taking a
long breath in order 20 start again a
prolonged mourniul howl broke the still
ness OF the night air. IL was the sound
which he had bean dreading and expect
ing His frst impulse was 10 save him
self by climbing one Of the large trees
near BY Then he thought Of mis-
mothers parting charge. That would
be looking out FOR myself. and she told
me 70 take care Of father, he murmured.
ae hastily pulled of his jacket, felt for
his knife, and tightened the scarf around
MS waist. You'll have exercise snough
70 keep you warm, Tom Ely" he NUT
tered between his set teeth; and then
he shot forward like an arrow from the
bow How the ice rang under the quick,
fierce strokes of the skates! How swiftly
the shores glided byl
The boy paused a moment 70 look
over his shoulder On the ice near the
shore was a small. black speck. growing
rapidly larger. The wind bad swept
tho last light fall of snow from the cen
Ter OF the lake into windrows on both
sides, and there il had frozen, making
a rough surface on which the wolf found
a sure footing. Tom increased his speed,
but that long, tireless gsllop, never for
an instant faltering nor lettering. was
gaining rapidly on him. Already the
lean, shaggy brute was within a few
yards, and the boy heard an angry snarl
as the creature made fierce spring at
him Quick as thought Tom wheeled
suddenly 20 the right, and the wolf
rolled over and over on the ice, while
the skater sped on, gaining several rods
By this trick.
In a moment, however. the furious
beast was up again, and a second des-
perate race began, and a second tiue
Tom escaped the sharp, white teeth.
BY this time the boys heart was beat
ing like a trip-hammer. His breath
came in quick, short gasps, and he was
conscious Of a queer feeling of weakness
about the knees. His heart sank with
in him as he looked back and saw his
enemy again on his track. 4 can't
keep it up much longer" he thought.
"A little twig or roughness on the ice
and 10 is all over with me- He raised
his white, despairing face toward the
heavens with a swift, short prayer.
Just then be caught glimpse Of a low
point Of land at the left. Toms blood
tingled az the sight Below were the
hunters cabin and the stout lumbermcn,
What IL tho men had gone on TO the
settlement,"-and the bOyish voice
broke into a sob.
A few strokes Of the skates brought
him - tho point, with the wolf close At
his heels. Tom raised his whistle to
his lips and blew piercing blast. In
another moment ne had lodged the wolf
again, and "a be sweat round the point
he saw the open door Of tho cabin and
the blazing Ire within. He heard a
dozen answering whistles. the hoarse
bayiug Of dogs, the sharp crack Of rife.
He mustered strength 20 tell his story,
and then a faintness came over him and
ne .ottered into the arms Of a strong
lum herman.
The next that he knew he was lying
on a PIE % skins by bright fire. with
several strong men bonding over him.
one ~ tho hunters was saying: I'D give
q good doal toovn = hoy ike that. Talk
Of heroes shy that ffteen-yoar-old
chap is The biggest hero Of them all"
Tom looked up. DO said only:
Father"
-Four % The men have gone 20 the
settlements for doctor. half dozen
more. with old Hodge amongst 'em and
he's rs good ss a doctor any timol. are
or -he way 20 your father. and as soon
as you are able we'll take yoU up with
U.S.
And the voif7~ Tom sank back shud-
dering
His hide is over y0nder in the cor
ner; ore ~ the men SAYS that 10 ia
going 70 dress the skin Tor Jon. T. viii
be the pr1udest trophy % your life,
reckon e. Emma " Domeritt. in 81
Nicholas
THE AGE or HORSES
Tnter~stfnr fnfsrrnstion Pr th~ lover. ~
Thrs .~rnf anTussl