The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-27


was then lad of Is small of my age but
why, and as capable of enduring fatigue
as any man, while no one in the valley
could excel me in riding after cattle, throw
ing a lasso or sticking to bucking bron-
cho.
Late one afternoon was returning from
a trip up the mountain side on my plucky
little pony Selim. As l drew rein to let
the pony regain his breath l noted, with a
start of surprise, that it had grown very
! late.
Come, Selim, we must get out of this, ~
/ said to the pony, with shake of the
rein; but before he could take a step
forward from pinon shrouded gulch to
my left arose a deep, long drawn howl.
The moment after another rang out clear
and ominous from the opposite side of
! Hayden pass.
| Then third and fourth sounded from a
cottonwood thicket that nestled in gulch
at my rear.
Its the wolves, and they have US al
most surrounded. Go it, Selim!" 1 cried
as gave him the rein.
! Half wild with fear he rushed off down
the mountain side.
WILD RIDE FOR LIFE.
That was mad ride for life. Now we
dashed under the low hanging boughs of a
stunted cedar, next we leaped fallen tree
top, scattering dry branches right and left,
and then we jumped deep gully or went
headlong off a ledge of rock, not seen in
the dim light until too late to avoid them
Somehow we reached the bottom of the
pass in safety, and few down the narrow
trail to the mouth of the canyon.
Down grade and clear trail Go it,
Selim! Well beat them yetp' l cried
And the little horse lay low upon the
ground, while the echo of his hoof beats
rang a rhythmical echo of triumph upon
the hard packed soil
But glancing over my shoulder through
the twilight | saw pack of flying shad-
Ows horribly close at our heels. The howl
ing had ceased long since, as the wolves
were now saving their breath to chase their
prey.
"Faster-faster, Selim!' shouted.
And the pony sprang forward with in
creased speed, only to stumble and fall,
sending me head over heels intoa clump of
oak brush.
Luckily was not much hurt, but scram-
bled to my feet just in time to see the poor
pony hobble past on three legs, with the
band of wolves right upon him.
Put his foot in a dog hole and broke his
leg" l reflected. That ends his chances,
poor fellow"
The next moment / heard that pitiful
sound, the scream of a horse in mortal ter
ror, and knew that the savage brutes had
overtaken him at last.
Out of breath and still trembling from
the effects of my fall, sat down at the
foot OF a tree to rest; but now the bowls of
the wolves again rang in my ears. Having
finished my faithful pony they were COM
ing back for me.
III l only had a gun I'd sell my life as
dearly as might be" Croaned.
a HAPPY THOUGHT.
And then | bethougLt me that at least
had few matches in my pocket.
Drawing them forth l struck one, and
with trembling fingers held it to a tuft of
dry grass.
Instantly q tiny flame shot up. This l
fed with pine needles, dry cones and little
twigs until had n bright blaze burning;
and none too soon, for now the bsffled
wolves were circulating around aud around
the space illumined by the freight, while
some Of the bolder ones even entered for a
moment its outer boundary.
At first fed the fire freely, but as the
night wore on and the savage brutes
showed no signs of leaving | began to
economic on fuel. The ground beneath
the pine tree was Uttered with the fallen
needles, cones and dry branches of years,
but they burned very fast, and already
had made great inroads upon them.
1t must have been about 9 o'clock when
.rlT.- IL al
ready guarding mo. The newcomers were
evidently regarded as iDtrUders, for they
were greeted with angry snarls and finally
both packs INDUCED in rough and tumble
fight.
As they struggled together now and then
a group was forced within the circle Of
freight, and l shuddered as l saw their
pitiless white fangs and glazing eyes
But the savage animals soon tired of
rending each other aud returned to their
old occupation of ceaselessly tramping
around my firelit space.
SAVED BY FIRE.
Thus the hours dragged YEARLY past
until from the position of the stars knew
that it lacked but a few hours of daybreak,
and now the fire began 70 burn low. Every
cone and twig from beneath the tree had
been heaped on the Goals.
If one of those pinons were just little
higher I'd make a dash for it," / thought
over and over again as / watched the |
flames sink lower and lower while the cir |
cling wolves came closer and closer.
And now there was but bed Of glowing !
embers left. The gaunt leader Of the band |
had crept up nearer and still nearer, and |
As the hlmy ash began TO form upon the |
rudy Goals he crouched 20 leap upon his |
prey.
Ny head sank upon my breast as waited |
that fatal spring, when To- column Of /
sparks and flame shot twenty feet up into |
the air and scattered the frightened wolves, |
who fed bowling IN dismay. / vss saved. !
\ pitch soaked root had olazed up IN the !
nick of time. and now burned merrily. |
Presently the whole resin covered trunk of l
the tree caught FIRE and became verTtable |
pillar Of flame, and then / knew that my 4
hour OF peril was indeed past.
The wolves hung around until morning, /
but the first beams OF the rising sun scat 4
tered theIE 70 their lair among the mount 4
a2as.-Golden Days
Generous Lord
Lord Tollemache. who died in London Al .