The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-12
was discovered and, perhaps, soon to
be chased by them.

| also knew that after period of
intense cold weather they became so
ravenous from hunger that nothiog
except superior speed could overcome
their attacks.
Though l felt safe enough in my
| iceboat which, try their hardest they
couldn't catch, thought it high time
to be off, so pointing the bowsprit for
home started.
| But the wind was against me and,
though / skinned swiftly over the
ice, my speed wasn't nearly so great
as when going with the breeze, while
the tacks I had to make brought me
too close to the gloomy banks for
comfort in case the wolves became
numerous and venturseome.
All the time and from every direc-
ton, some from afar and many close
by, came those blood-curdling howls
increasing in number and filling me
with an indescribable terror, which
chilled me even more than the cutting
blasts blowing right in my teeth.
Soon l saw dusky forms outlined
against the shadowed snow under the
trees on either bank, running along
with me and easily keeping up with
my fight.
At every tack l made, going no
nearer the shore than | could help,
my horrible pursuers would slacken
their speed and watch me till .urned,
while, from the darkness of the woods
where they stood ready to spring
upon me at the first chance, their hot
eyes cleaning like blazing Goals.
Then, as the wind filled my little
sail and l shot off to the opposite bank,
they, giving chorus of maddened
howls, started again to head Inc off,
while those on the side [ was ap-
preaching stopped to wait for me.
So far, none had ventured on the
frozen river and l began to hope they
wouldn't, for, thought 1 might avoid
an attack from the banks, trembled
at the thought of what might result
if they took to the ice.
All the while they were gathering
| in greater numbers and displaying
more boldness and cunning in calcu-
lating and waiting for my movements
in tacking.
If the wind died out, if my sail
gave way, if l upset, as l came near
to doing more than once in bouncing
over rough piece of ice, should be
torn to bits and devoured instantly.
Even without those things happening
l realized my chance of reaching
home in safety was frightfully slim.
Now the howlings for some reason
stopped in silent, unrelenting and
tireless pursuit the ever increasing
bloodthirsty wolves loped along the
shadowy banks easily keeping up
with my boat which almost seemed to
stand still while the pack on the ice
behind were surely getting closer and
preventing me from flying backwards
up the river in case had to use that
forlorn and, likely, hopeless way of
distancing those near me if they, too,
left the land.
Before me and twenty miles yet
from safety the river beg an to twist
between projecting bluffs, maybe ten
feet or so in height. | knew the con-
trary winds there would necessitate
slower progress and longer tacks, and
SO give the wolves the opportunities
they wanted of heading me OFT and
perhaps springing from the bluffs upon
me while turned.
Evidently they knew it, too, for
without pausiug to wait now when |
| approached the shores they darted 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
up.
One hand held the tiller, the other
revolver, as under the first dreaded
point was obliged to sail, but al
though the immense creatures there
crowded and showed signs of leaping
of, they didn't, and away | skinned
to the opposite bank.
reached it and, too paralyzed with
fear to look up, slowly went about.
Suddenly, before could set we'll un-