Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-26
PURSUED BY WOLVES.
A WILD RIDE FOR LIFE. AND a MAR.
ROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.


Night-Face to Face with Death-A
Brave Boy Saved by Happy Idea.
Power of Fire Upon Wild Bes.ts
There are no wild animals more TO be
dreaded than timber wolves, especially
when pressed by hunger Then they be
come veritahle demons. and woe upon the
living thing whose trail they happen TO
cross!
They at once begin a merciless chase and
continue it untiringly, rivaling in speed
and endurance the most sinewy horse
Nothing daunts them. Shoot one down
and he is instantly devoured by the rest of
the pack who thereupon rush forward
with unchecked courage and appetites but
whetted by their unnatural feast Fire
alone can hold them at bay
With these ugly brutes it was my luck
to have an adventure the second spring
after we settled on Major creek, Colo |
was then lad of Is, small of my age but
wiry, and as capable of enduring fltigue
as any man, while no one in the valley
could excel me in riding after cattle, brow
ing lassO or sticking to buckinC brou
cho.
Late one afternoon was returning from
trip up the mountain side on my plucky
little pony Selim. As | drew rein TO let
the pony regain his breath noted. with
start of surprise, that it had grown very
late
Come, Selim, we must get out of this
1 said to the pony, with n shake Of the
rein; but before he could take q step
forward from pinon shrouded gu ch 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 a gulch
at my rear
Its the wolves, and they have us al
most surrounded. Go it, Selimr" | 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 a fallen tree
top, scattering dry branches right and left,
and then we jumped deep gully or went
headlong off 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 flew down the harrow
trail to the mouth of the canyon.
Down grade and clear trail. Go it.
Selim! Wen beat them yet"' cried
And the little horse lay low upon the
ground, while the echo of his hoof beats
rang rhythmical echo of triumph upon
the hard packed soil.
But glancing over my shoulder through
the TWILIGHT / ranl- nf A.-,a Il.
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, SeIimr' | shouted.
And the pony sprang forward with in
creased speed, only to stumble and fall,
sending me head over heels intoa clu1np of
oak brush
Luckily was not much hurt, but scram
bled to my feet just in time to see the poor
pony hobbie past on three legs. with the
band of wolves right upon him
Put his foot in dog hole and broke his
leg" reflected THAT ends his chances
poor fellowp'
The next moment | heard that piciful
sound, the scream of horse in mortal ter
ror, and knew that the savage brutes had
overtaken him at last.
Out of breath and still trent bling from
the effects of my fall, sat down at the
foot of tree to rest; but now the how Is of
the wolves again rang in my ears Having
finished my faithful pony they were com.
ing back for me
IF only had a gun I'd sell my life as
dearly as might be-" | groaned
HAPPY THOUGHT
And then bethought me that at least
had few matches in my pocket
Drawing them forth | struck one, and
with trembling fingers held it to a tuft of
dry grass
Instantly tiny flame shot up This |
fed with pine needles, dry cones and little
twigs until had bright blaze burn NJ
and none too soon, for now the baifed
wolves were circulating around and around
the space illumined by the freight. W nile
some of the holder ones even entered for
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
economize on fuel. The ground beneath
the pine tree was Uttered with the ia len
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
a second pack of wolves joined those al
ready guarding me. The newcomers were
evidently regarded as intruders, for they
were greeted with angry snarls and finally
both packs INDUCED in rough and tum BILE
fight
AS they struggled together now and then
a group was forced within the circle of
freight, and | shuddered as | saw their
pitiless white fangs and glazing eyes.
But the savage animals soon tired of
rending each other and returned to their
old occupation of ceaselessly tramp-ng
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 to burn low. Every
cone and twig from beneath the tree tad
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