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

During one OF the coolest winters
ever known, | was in Russia, my
business obliging me TO spend several
months in an outskirt village situated
on the bank of goodly sizel but I'M
navigablc river which, of course, was
frozen solid.
Having plenty of spare time and
such splendid place to indulge in my
fayoritc sport Of sailing on the ice, |
had made me fine ice boat, on which,
warmly clad in fur garments. took
frequent and long trips, sometimes
extending them far into the night
when the moon was bright enough.
Although was often warned by
the peasants to avoid yenturing too far
up tee river especially at night--on
account of tho wolves who inhabited
that wild region, | paid little attention
10 their words, for. never having been
attacked by those savage creatures,
couldn't realize how dangerous they
were.
Neither did know that the Russian
wolves were at least twice as big and
mu,h moro terrible in strength and
fcrocity than those in this country,
which had always skulkcd away the few
times | had met them in our Western
States.
Late one clear and cold afternoon |
started out on my iccboat prepared
for longer trip than usual, for it was
full moon time l wanted TO sec the
grand mountain scenery somc thirty
miles up tho river and also the falls
there which | had been told were so
wonderfully beautiful in their winter
dress and in the moonlight.
Tho rivers solid sur face was in
most places smooth and the wind was
just right for fine sailing.
For fear might meet some wolves
which, knew, or thought l did, that
my swift iccboat could easily distance
in case they followed, l wore brace
of big rcvolvers and small hatchct,
which last, however, l always took
with me.
Quickly I left the settlement far
behind and where the liver was
straight and wind favorable / flow
with lightning's speed.
But where tho river twisted so |
had 10 tack, or whore the ice was
humpy, or where the tall fir tree OH
the silent. snow-covcrcd banks kept
of the wind, made slower progress.
The further got up the river the
more bcwildcring in grandeur and
beauty the uninhabitablc and rugged
country became, and when the setting
sun lighted the clouds and mountain
tops with fro tho effect on tho weird
Russian landscape exceeded my Wild
est dreams of natures glory.
When the full moon arose from be-
hind the dark forest of frs, which
friDged the rivers edge and the colors
changed from fiery gold to silvcry
white, ] was completely cntranccd.
The contrast between the glittcrs of
the moonbeams on the sparkling snow
and ice and the intense blackness and
shadows of the gloomy woods charmed
me, and yet, in spite of my eathusi-
asm, it awcd me with its fearful sub
Unity.
Onward my iceboat flew till came
in sight of the falls ahead, then,
Stacking my speed, slowly and care
fully approached them.
In their center the dark waters
leapcd aud tumbled. on either side
trees and rocks coated with glistening
ice and dazzling iciclcs seemed like
a sugar Fairyland, while above hung
a misty cloud ofspray in which floatcd
lunar rainbow.
l know not how Icing would have
gently glidcd to and fro lost in adj
miration of the majestic scene of
spiendor had not been startled by
distant howl apparently coming from
the depths of tho dismal woods OH my
right quickly followed by answering
bowls from the other bank.
l knew from my little experience
while hunting in the far West that the
sounds were from wolves and that |
was discovered and, perhaps. soon TO
be chased by them.
| also knew that after a period of
intense cold weather they became so
ravenous from hunger that nothi g
except superior speed could overcome
their attacks.
Though | felt safe enough in my
iccboat which, try their hardest they
couldn't catch, l thought it high time
to be of, SO pointing the bowsprit for
home l started.
But the wind was against mo and,
though l skinned swiftly over the
ice, my speed wasn't nearly SO great
as when going with the breeze, while
the tacks | had TO make brought me
too close to the gloomy banks for
comfort in case the wolves became
numerous aud ycnturscomc.