The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-14

On the way back to the camp Mr..
Howard discovered some more tracks.
which he said were those of moose,
and he promised That the young men
should follow them tile next lay. SAYS
a Maine letter To the n Y. Tribune.
The Young men had an adventure that
night. however. that came near ending
their hunting experience and their
lives Iacv had brought their skates
with them. and after supper. as the
mooa was fall they decided to have
some sport on the ice.
1t was dark in the woods on the
shore OF the lake, but the hrilIiancv on
the ice was extreme. a rain bad
melted the snow and then a cold snap
had followed, freezing the surface n
smooth rs a mirror. The surface was
what is called snow ice. and 1t was al-
most perfectly white. il g,istcncd like
polished steel in the brig Il moonlight.
There was no wind. aud after the
Young men had fastened on their
skates they set out to cross the lake.
4 distance OF three miles. The steel
rdnne"S rang on the ice like music. and
the cold. still mir was rs eXhIlarating
as win. When nearing the farther
shore tie skaters heard the howl Of
wolf then another a little farther up
the Lake. and still another back in
the woods. The skaters stopped and
listened with batcd breath.
The howl of Il wolf at night has
fascination in it. terrible rs it is. and
one hearing it in the woods has a
strange curiosity to see the bowler.
SO it was with the Young men. and
they stood perfectly still while howl
after howl could be heard all along
the shore line. There were only three
ut first. but now it seemed as if there
must he scores of them. The first
howls had been taken up and answered
and rs their number increased they
came much nearer.
Its pack Of wolves" said Sam,
land think we'd better make tracks
for camp
"Oh, no." said the wise young man
from the city, lets see what they
look like. They can't run on the ice"
Don't fool yourself about that, my
boy answered Sam. Their claws
are sharp enough to give them Il foot
hold"
A moment later there was a regular
concert of bowls and number of
gray objects could be dimly seen NOV
ing about among the trees near the
shore.
Come quick old man, urged Sam
they're coming in Il drove" and, sure
enough, half a hundred hungry wolves
broke cover and lcaped upon the ice.
The city man now saw that wolves
could ran OH smooth ice, aud he saw
also that he would have to skate faster
than he had ever Skated before to save
himself from being torn to pieces.
The young men started for the camp.
skating rs rapidly rs their limbs could
carry them, but the wolves bowling
and snarling like tiends incarnate,
slowly but surely gained on them.
Wen have to separate and double
them. said Sam, whose breath was
fast leaving him under the terrible
strain. 1t was quickly arranged that
when the wolves came within Il lew feet
the skaters we're tn turn quickly to
one side and circle to the rear of the
pack, then 10 circle again to the front
and 20 on toward the camp. In this
way they expected to be able to gain
many yards. because they could re-
sumo full speed much more quickly
than their pursucrS.
The breathing Of the painting beasts
could be plainly heard rs they came
nearer TO their prey. Everything now
depended upon the surcfootedness of
the skaters. Afal~c stroke. Il slip or fall
meant certain death. Sam gave the
word, and Is the shakers turned the
the pack came together i'll Il snarlIng
howiiug mass. the leaders by trying
10 stop suddenly being tumbIed over
by those IN the rear.
In Il trice the skaters were off again
and had gained fully 2JO yard, before
the paci was in full cry once more.
The shore was NOW not more than half
mile away AMI there was i prospect
that the skaters could rcach it ahead
of the wolves. but not in time to en-
able them 10 gain the camp. They
doubled again when half the distance
had been travelled this time firing in
to the pack with their reviewers as they
turned, hoping that the shots would
be heard 1T the camp and bring relief.
The plan WAS a good one and it sue
cecded- Lights began to appear along
the shore, and the moment the land
was reached the young men hastily
threw of their skates aud dashed into
the woods. They were met by Sans
father and Il dozen lumbermen armed
with rifles. The men had heard the
bowling of the wolves and had under
stood the danger OF their young friends.
Sam aud his companion dashed
ahead to the camp for their rifles and
then returned to assist in the fight with
the pack. bringing with them several
of the other men.
Standing in the shadow of the trees
the men began firing at the distinct
forms in the moonlight on the ice.
Shot after shot was sent into the pack,
and every bullet brought down a wolf.
The pack halted rs broadside volcy
went through it with deadly effect.
The repeaters were doing splendid
work. About twenty of The beasts
were dead in almost rs many seconds.
and the others turned away in Il panic
and broke for the woods to the left.
The firing was kept up until the pack
had gained the darkness of the woods
and had disappeared. still bowling and
snarling, in the night. Twenty-eight
of the wolves were slain. They were
skinned and the hides nailed up for
preservation.
The hunters enjoyed the thrilling
story of the escape of the boys" rs
the young hunters were called, and
many exciting stories of adventure
were recalled and related around
the blazing log fire before the men re-
tired to rest that night.
Traveller, Landlord, and Wildcat.