The Meeker herald., 1892-03-05
shriit between him and nis compan-

shrift between him and nis compan-
ions. And it WAS just at this oppor-
tune moment that my hand
accidentally touched I no han
die of the revolver. 1t
had completely escaped my mind,
but ierked it out and fred-just IN
time. The wolf was crippled and fell.
J heard his companions pounce upon
him, and ] suppose they tore him
limb from limb. didn'. wait to see.
Another hill was before me, and il
ever a man worked in the world I
worked to gain the top OF that hill.
Before WAS half way up could hear
them coming again, and was salts
fled from the noise they made that II
number OF Others had joined them.
had the pis,o ready. but there was
only tive shots left, and was not eS-
pert enough TO Halter myself that all
o! these would be eiIectual. Five
shots TO fifteen or twenty wolves. in IA
strange country. and with night COM
ing on, Hut before had time to get
many such thoughts in order, sudden
ly over on my left appeared the red.
half open jaws of n wolf, and shot.
turning my pistol instantly 10 lire
upon the wolf that was prepar-
ing TO spring upon the other
side. Tho first ono fell. and was
welcomed by his brethren. l
missed the last, and he sprang Mt me.
missing this wheel no narrowly that IL
makes my il-sh creep yet when think
OF II. They fell behind for "a few mo-
mcnts TO drvour their wounded COM
radc. and l made my way down the
hill. Just ns ! reached the foot
heard the pack break out atr.sh. And
then began "a race which shall never
forget, As | struck tho level road !
i-lt a colder breeze on my face, and
thu next moment ] WAS out on wide
prairie, with no more hills To climb.
had thought that perhaps the wolvc,
would turn back when they reached
the limits OF tho woods. but they did
nothin: OF tho kind. They came
sweeping on like n whirlvind. A. for
me. WAS ordinarily one OF tho finest
wh.-lrn-n ia the state. and the speed
! could make on level ground was
something phenomenal. True. ! was
very tired when reached tina, prniri,
road-hu; | had ons advantage
didn't know IL. | was
quite SURF OF on. ihin.-my III. de
pended on the time ! made. II ! lost
ground no that they could once touch
my wheel. ! would be- oycrihEown and
dvyour-d. Driven by such fears n-
these. threw such energy into my
work as never before went into mere
bicycle race. cannot say rac-d-i
How. The ground seemed to swim un.
der me. Tile bowling pack behind me
ran M they had not done before.
When glanced behind INC It seemed
moro Ike pack OF demons just let
loose than any gang of savage animals.
! soon found that they We're nj mn nd-
vantage on the prairie. ms well ns !.
Never before had | realized 20 intense.
~ how serious my condition was.
did my very b-st-b.tt-r than had
over done beforehand yet barely
managed to keep ahead Of them "a Few
PAGES. Once my strength seemed To
iail me for !ow moments. aud lost
ground. Almost instantly half n dof.
en- were abr-a-, o! me. their .nng.- still
red with the blood OF their eomrnd-,
and their wolvi-h eyes cleaning. by
desperate -;for, rho, ahead again.
and their hovl- wrr. tytloubl-I "a
they pursued me. All tn. time had
been conscious tina, the darkncs. WAS
closing in. and that I, would soon pu,
mn end to my journey. II was already
bccomin. difficult to sec ob,,rucii ion,
IN the road. This consciousness made
tho feel weak. aud l realized that
could not keep up this strain much
longer. l believe. after all. that ! wan
on the point o, brcakin: down.
know that ! was beginning TO lose
ground again. when ] saw some dis.
tuncc ahead. the sudden ,winklin. Of n
lieh, tina, .honc on. for moment
across the sleepy Landscape. and then
ms suddenly disappeared. ! knew that
door had opened and cast TINT
cheering ray abroad and clos-,i again.
Not far away there was n house. aud
there was h-lp mt hand just when |
was beginning TO despair. From that
momcn, ] felt tina, the race was won.
The wolves did not by any means
turn back because wr were approach
ing n "sct'lcmcnt." but that glimpse
OF light had put new ,isor into my
limbs. and the time tina, made put
me few feet ahead OF them. Even
when half stumbled. half fell from
my wheel mt the gate o! the little
farmhouse. the whole savage pack
was sweeping after me, and II took
two shots from tho farmers gun and
the cutlery of three or four dogs o turn
them bnck even then.
had to be helped into tho house.
and lay there all the next day. too
disabled to move. The farmer told
mo ,hnt tho wolves had been doing
great deal OF damage in that neigh
borhood, but this was the first time
they had vcnturcd to chnsc people.
cnvc them no second opportunity to
chase me. and | finished my Journey
in the farmers wagon with my wheel
lying ANONYMOUSLY behind me: md
journ.ycd back to the railroad in the
same way. a bicycle race with wolves
will do once in awhile by way o
variety, but wouldn't want it to be
come n regular thing.
Quito Easy.