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


At every tack l made, going no
nearer the shore than could help,
my horrible pursuors would slackcn
their speed and watch mo ill 'urncd,
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 chorus of maddcned
bowls, started again to head IN, of,
while those on the side was APP
proaching stopped to wait for Inc.
SO far, none had vcnturcd on the
frozen river and began TO hope they
wouldn't, for, thought / might avoid
an attack from the banks, tremblcl
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-
la,ing 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 be
torn to bits aud dcvourcd instantly.
Even without those things happening
| realized my chance of reaching
home in safety was frightfully sim.
Now the howlings for some reason
stopped in silent, unrclenting and
tirclcss pursuit the ever increasing
bloodthirsty wolves lopod along the
shadOwy banks easily keeping up
with my boat which almost seemed to
stand still while tic pack on the ice
behind were surely getting closer and
preventing me from flying back wards
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 mo aud twenty miles yet
rom safety the river began to twist
between projecting bluffs, maybe ten
feet or 50 in height. ! knew The con-
trary winds there would nocessitatc
slower progress, and longer tacks, and
so give the wolves the opportunities
they wanted of heading mo of aud
perhaps springiug from the bluff, upon
me while turned.
Evidently they knew it, too, for
without pausing 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
VI.
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 lcaping
of, they didn't, and away | skinned
10 the opposite bank.
reached it and, too paralyzed with
fear to look up, slowly went about.
Suddenly, before | could set we'll un-
der way, with howl of the ticrccst
ragc an enormous gray wolf',s-a--
from the bank and landed with his
fore feet OIL the stern of the boat,
well nigh upsetting 1t and 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
throcs, tore him limb from limb aud
dcvoured mm instantly.
That taste of blood maddcncd the
others, and, faster than | can tell it,
they lcapcd from everywhere on the
river till before and behind and each
side they rushed after my boat, which
just then was squirting across for ono
moro tack ere | should have some
miles of straight sailing where the
wind would be favorable.
But right in my path, and where l
had to go about. pack of wolves,
forty at least, were coming or waiting,
for they seemed to have learned the
trick of the ice boats 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 pounced 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 it broke their ranks and gave me
a few seconds longer to work my boat
around for its last short tack.
lIatchet in hand, OH and into the
confused pack l dashed, hitting some
and sending them sprawling, but in
spite of everything three mighty fell
lows lcapcd on my boat, one of them
knocking the tillcr from my grasp as
he struggled for footing-thc other