Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-04-08

blasts blowing right in my teeth.
Soon saw dusky forms outlined
against tho Swallowed snow undor the
trees on either bank, running along
with me and easily keeping up with
my flight.
AT every tack | made, going no
nearer the shore than | could help,
my horrible pursuors would slackcn
their speed and watch mo till turned,
while, from the darkness Of The woods
where they stood ready to spring
upon me at the frs. chance, their hot
eyes cleaning like blazing Goals.
Then, as tho wind filled my little
sail and | shot Otto the opposite bank,
they, giving a chorus of maddc ned
bowls, started again to head IN, off,
while those on the side [ was APP
proaching stopped to wait for inc.
So far, none had ventured on the
frozen river and l began 10 hope they
wouldn't, for, thought might avoid
an attack from the banks, trcmblcl
at tho thought of what might result
if they took to the ice.
All the while they wcrc gathering
in greater numbers and displaying
more boldness and cunning in calcu-
lating and waiting for my movements
in lacking.
If the wind died out, If my sail
gave way, if | upset, as | came near
to doing more than once in bouncing
over rough piece of ice, should he
torn to bits aud devourcl instantly.
Even without those things happening
| realized my chance of reaching
home in safety was frightfully slim.
Now the howliugs for some reason
stopped in silent, unrelenting aud
tirclcss pursuit the ever increasing
bloodihirsty wolves lopcd along the
shadowy banks easily keeping up
with my boat which almost seemed to
stand still while tic pack on tho ice
behind were surely getting closer aud
preventing me from flying backwards
up the river in case | hal to use. that
forlorn and, likely, hopeless way of
distancing those near me if they, too,
left the land.
Before me aud twenty miles get
.sr2in safety tho river began o twist
between projecting bluffs, maybe ten
feet or 50 in height. ! knew the COLI
trary winds there would nccessitate
slower progress and longer tacks, and
so give the wolves the opportunities
they wanted of heading mo oil and
perhaps springiug from the blutf,upon
INC while | turned.
Evidently they knew it, too, for
without pausiug 10 wait now when l
approached the shores they darle on,
and could see them forming in hor-
rid groups in front of me on several
exposed points, while those in the
rear on the ice were rapidly catching
".
One hand held the filler, the other
revolver, as under the first dreaded
point l was obliged to sail, but al
though the immense creatures there
crowded and showed signs of leaping
of, they didn't, and away | skinned
10 the opposite bank.
| reached it aud, too paralyzed with
fear to look up, slowly went about.
Suddenly, before | could set well un-
der way, with howl of the ticrccst
rage an enormous gray wolf shot
from the bank and landed with his
fore feet OIL the stern of the boat,
well nigh upsetting it aud nearly
stopping its motion as he dragged be-
hind striving to bite me with his hor-
rid fangs.
fired, almost poking the pistol into
his great open mouth, and he, loosing
his hold on the boat, rolled over, dy-
ing on the ice.
At once a dozen of his fellows
sprang from the bank upon him, and,
Willie he still struggled in his death
lhrocs, tore him limb from limb aud
tlevourcd Inn instantly.
That taste of blood madlcned the
others, and, faster than | can tell it,
they lcapcd from everywhere on the
river till before aud behind and each
side they rushed after my boat, which
Just then was squirting across for ono
more tack ere | should have some
miles of straight sailing where the
wind would be favorable.
But right in my path, and where |
had to go about. pack of wolves,
forty at least, were coming or waiting,
for they seemed to have learned the
trick of the icc-boat's lacking.
Aiming quickly at those in front |
emptied my revolver into them; then
as drew nearer | gave them the con-
tents Of my other pistol. As before each
wounded wolf was pouncad upon and
torn and eaten by his comrades, but SO
many of the beasts were at me that
all could not join in the bloody feast.
Still il broke their ranks and gave me
few seconds longer to work my boat
around for its last short tack.
IIatche. in hand, on aud into the
confused pack l dashed, hitting some
and sending them sprawling, but in
spite of everything three mighty fell
lows leaped on my boat, one of them
knocking the filler from my grasp as
he struggled for footing-thc other