The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-10-12


His situation was now growing des
perate, for the horses speed was failing,
and his strides growing feebler and
feebler.
The wolves were dozen yards be-
hind and gaining fast.
Luke turned again and fired, and ms
he aimed to give them second shot
dire accident befell him. The barrel of
the revolver caught in the fur trim.
mings of his coat and dropped to the
ground, leaving him absolutely ct the
mercy of his savage foes.
Sick with despair he made one last
effort to escape, leaning forward on the
horses neck and urging the brave ami.
nal to greater speed. In moment
more horse and rider would have been
overtaken and dragged to the ground,
when suddenly the sound of running
water reached Luke's ears, and some
distance before him down the slope of
the hill he saw low, deep ravine cross.
ing the path.
y little closer and he saw distinctly
what was before him. A mountain
stream, i'll ordinary times a mere brawl
ing brook, but now swollen by rain TO
rushing torrent, swept between tive
steep banks. Here was chance for
safety. If he could only leap the gull
his ravenous pursuers might he left be
hind.
Leaning forward ON his horses neck
he urged him on with one last, despair
ing effort.
The brave animal thundered down the
hill, still ahead of the howling pack,
reached the brink of the gorge, rose
without hesitation into the air and came
down safely on the other side
The wolves, rushing blindly on,
plunged over the edge of the precipice,
and though some of them perished on
the sharp rocks, the remainder, strug.
Cling down into deep pool some yards
below, swan through the icy waters tc
the bank, and struggling to the top took
up the chase again as though nothing
had happened.
Luke, fifty yards in front by this time,
looked back just as the topmost wolf
came in sight over the bank, followed
by half dozen more in quick success.
sion.
His heart sank within him, and for
moment he was tempted to give up the
struggle.
AS the horse, startled by the renewed
bowling of the pursuing pack, dashed
off again, trembling and pcrspiring
Lukes eye caught the sight of II dark
object lying ON the snow ahead of him.
1t was II rifle, the lost property no doubt
of ono of the native mail carriers
Guiding the horse directly toward it
he leaned down suddenly from the sad.
die and as he rushed past made quick
snatch mt it,
The horse swerving mt this critical
moment he missed his aim, and foolishly
making second attempt overbalanced
himself, and with II cry of horror shot
headforemost into the snow, while his
riderless horse Numbered on his course.
For n second Luke lay stunned anl
dizzy, the howling of the wolves ring
ing family in his ears. Then, pulling
himself upright, he looked eagerly
around him.
Horror upon horrors! The foremost
wolf, n great, gaunt creature, with blood
red jaws. was nearly upon him. Now,
seeing his prey so still, defenselcss-.
within his grasp mt last-the brute camc
.stealthily forward, with sneaking tread.
Luke shouted at him, but the wolf
only growled. Picking up the rifle, he
snapped it in vain, and then, seizing il
by the barrel, he swung it around his
body.
With furious spring the wolf was
upon him. He dimly saw the glaring
eyes close tO his own, felt the hot breath
on his neck, and then heard binding.
deafening report ringing close to his
ears, after which he knew no more.
Strange faces We're bending over hin.
when he regained consciousness. Hi
rescuers We're the Russians from the
mining camp, who had hastened to his
aid when the first bullets were fired. A
fortunate shot had killed Luke's assail-
ant in the nick of time, and the remain.
der of the pack, cheated of their human
prey, had gone on in pursuit of the horse.
Luke was carried to the .camp-it was
only two miles away-and by the fol.
lowing day he was feeling himself again.
The mystery was cleared up at last.
The fate of the two natives was only too
clear, and in addition one of the Rus.
slams from the camp had doubtless met
the same death, for he had made an at.
tempt to reach Vladivostok a week be.
fore and had not been heard from since.
Half dozen of them ventured out
fully armed, and found all the mail bags
and the bones Of Luke's poor horse. No
trace Of the two luckless natives was
discovered, and nothing was seen of the
wolves either. Probably the remnant
of the pack had been frightened out of
the neighborhood.
Two days later, Luke was escorted
back to Vladivostok, and was eagerly
welcomed by Captain Shanoff, who was
overjoyed to see him safe and sound.
The commandant wished the brave
young fellow to spend some time with
him, but Luke declined. He had seen
quite enough of Siberia, and the next