Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-10-08

0 pieces by the wolves was all that she
Jaw She herself seemed only some fly
my object of anxious, throbbing, breath
ess agony. "Cculd she save the boysP
vas the question which mingled itself
constantly in her mind with the little
PRAYER which she had said every night
md morning since she could speak; and
although every particle of energy of
10Th body and mind was put into her
unning, she was still dimly conscious of
Ter final plan of action, should the
wolves overtake them.
She knew that more wolves must
come, after the second one made his
appearance, and thought she was pre-
jared for them, but the sadden an
louncement, in the now almost frenzied
creams from the boys, baltimore wolves
IRE coming down the bank from the
lther shore-more than we can countW
made her stagger pitifully for moment.
The controlling sense of her great duty
save the boys soon steadied her, how
ver, and she cried out in sharp COM
naud-though hard drawn breath cut
letween each word-"B oys-stop-y
-screaming!"
Though fear was fast overcoming the
poor boys, they needed her tones of COM
mand enough to speak lower; but, oh,
how their voices shook as they an
nounced the last move of the savage
pack. "They're coming straight across
oh, Thursal Thursal The other two
are coming right at us They're all on
the trail now! Obi O5"
A short yelping howl announced the
start. Even before Thursa could fully
comprehend what tae boys had said, the
wolves had met on their trail and were
in full pursuit.
There may be some code of honor
among wolves, which demands that the
first to scent game takes the lead in chas-
ing down. In this case the big gray
fellow kept the lead, the rest coming in
struggling pack close behind. For a
few seconds the boys gazed spellbound
at the swiftly galloping beasts, aud then,
no longer able to bear the sight, they
huddled down into the box with
smothered screams.
Thursa realized the movement, and in
the silence that followed she distictly
heard the scratching patter of the
approaching feet.
"Throw out somethingi" she gasped.
Isaac understood the words only, aud
/ the next moment she heard one of his
crutches ring out on the ice,
''Not that" she painted still louder,
for she knew, as it proved, that one
sniff would be all the check that the
stick would give. "1he bearskinl"
/ AS the bearskln robe few out, the
wind caught it, floating it toward the
! shore, aud in an instant the whole pack
turned to pursue it, tumbling and sliding
over each other in snarling, squabbling
mass.
A short respite was thus given to the
/ children, while the wolves righted
themselves and tore to pieces the
bearskin robe. 1t was a short pause,
however, for the brave girl had barely
reached the turn into the ''little river, "
when the pack were upon them again,
maddened to fury at being cheated out
Of a meal. The foremost wolf actually
I scratched the end of the box, as ne sprang
Mt it.
The sudden Slowing of the sIel, as
Thursa dashed up the little river, sent
the leader rolling over on the ice, and
the unlooked-for turn left the rest of the
pack sailing helplessly by on their
launches.
"Now-scream-c hildten she gasp
ed, by this time fairly out of breath
"They may-hear-you at-the set
te-w
She gave little short, sharp scream
to start them, too, to which they re-
1 spondcd by a pitiful, sobbing call for
''Motber"
I Poor little fellows! one was lame aud
the other was mere child; but she
could not stop to pity them, for the
wolves had gathered themselves and were
npon them again.
Scream she shouted, at the same
time giving the sled powerful jerk
that sent it far ahead, while STOPPING she
Buatched Isaac's remaining crutch as it
shot past her, just in time to defend her
sell from the foremost wolf.
/ They did scream then, when they
saw that Thdrsa was behind among the
wolves, and their sharp young voices with
all their agony OF fear, were borne to the
ears of approaching helpers. The set
tiers, headed by the two trappers, were
coming in search OF them.
/ Thursa, with the desperation born of
fear, struck frautically at the wolf as he
leaped at her. Though the blow was
not very accurately given, ii was sue
cessfuI. The force impaired to the
heavy hardwood crutch, by the strong
young arm, met the ugly beast full on
his nose, doubling its weight by the VIC
lence Of his savage spring.
The crutch was hurled from her hand i;
but the wolf was stopped for he was roll
ing over aud over, bowling aud scratching
at his bruised and bleeding nose. He
was directly covered by the pack,
snarliug over the scent of fresh blood.
Thursa gave but one look at them be-
fore she few back to the sled. She
thought as she caught up the tongue,
with an awful agony in her heart,
"Whst can be done to stop the wolves
next timel"
She reeled, staggered and fell as she
attempted TO start the heavy sled, CRYING
out with mortal anguish as she went
down on her knees. 1t was we'll that
help WIS so near, for the poor girls
strength was nearly spentl But she
struggled bravely to her feet, to be re-
warded by along, loud shout from the
rescuing party as they swept around the
beud in full sight.
With cry of relief she grasped the
sled-tongue and hurried, With the last
remnant of her strength, toward them.
4 ''Stop thereP shouted Thursa's father,
as they met and passed the men keeping
on toward the advancing wolves.
She heard shots and shouts as she
sank down in utter exhaustion beside
The sled, and that was the last she knew
till she found herself lying on the settee
at home, with her mother beLding over
her.
ooh motherm she cried, starting up
us soon as she recognized her surround
( lngs-''The boys!-I tried so hard to
save themi" she concluded with hvs-
lerlcal sob.
$50 you did, my noble darIing' re.
turned her mother, clasping the sobbing
girl tightly in her arms. "And when
you feel better, you shall tell me all