Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-29

anc ais strldes growing reepIer and
feebler.
The wolves were dozen yards be-
hind and gaining fast.
Luke turned again and fired, and as
he aimed to give them a second shot a
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 at 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 Il 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.
A little closer and he saw distinctly
what was before him. A mountain
stream, III ordinary times a mere brawl-
ing brook, but now swollen by rain to a
rushing torrent, swept between two
steep banks. Here was a chance for
safety. If he could only leap the gulf
his ravenous pursuers might be left be-
hind.
Leaning forward on his horses neck
he urged him ON with one last, despair
ing effort.
The brave animal Numbered down the
hill atsn al, e l..
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 persisted on
the sharp rocks, the remainder, strug-
Cling down into a deep pool some yards
below, swan through the icy waters to
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 a dozen more in quick success
sion.
His heart sank within him, and for a
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 perspiring,
Luke's eye caught the sight of a dark
object lying on the snow ahead of him.
1t was rifle, the lost property no doubt
,f 90 h.
Guiding the horse directly toward it
he leaned down suddenly from the sad
die and as he rushed past made a quick
snatch at it.
The horse swerving at this critical
moment he missed his aim, and foolishly
making a second attempt overbalanced
himself, and with cry of horror shot
headforemost into the snow, while his
riderless horse Numbered on his course.
For a second Luke lay stunned and
dizzy, the bowling of the wolves ring
ing family in his ears. Then, pulling
himself upright, he looked eagerly
around him.
Horror upon horrorsi The foremost
wolf, great, gaunt creature, with blood
red jaws, was nearly upon him. Now,
seeing his prey 50 still, defenseless-
within his grasp at last-the brute came
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 it
by the barrel, he swung it around his
body.
With a furious spring the wolf was
upon him. He dinly saw the glaring
eyes close to his own, felt the hot breath
ON his neck, and then heard a binding,
deafening report ringing close TO his
ears, after which he knew no more.
Strange faces were bending over him
when he regained consciousness. His
rescuers were the Russians from the
mining camp, who had FASTENED 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 Lukes 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 commandment wished the brave
young fellow TO spend some time with