The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-07-28


rushed down upon him, snappine and
snarling in = most hideous manner. IS,
Young Wheeler's first thought was
that his doom was sealed then and
there. But he was q courageous youth,
and one of his principles was never ia
say die. s. n;
| Sooner than the pen is able to relate
it, he was on his feet and had sent the
foremost wolf back with one savage
kick from his stout boot. Then. grasp.
ing his revolver, he put a bullet through
the next one.
This created little panic among the
voracious beasts, and Ed took advan.
tage of the recoil to dash away toward
the creek. =.
The whole gang paused long enough
to tear their dead comrade to pieces
and lick up the blood. One dead wolf
was only morsel for fifteen Or eight.
cen gaunt, hungry ones, and it was not
long until Ed heard them bowling after
him again. K
| He had succeeded in reaching the
bank of the stream before the pursuit
was resumed.
Having tasted blood, he knew their
ferocity would be all the greater, and
he knew, too, that he had not second
to spare if he would save himself.
The creek bed was perfectly dry al
that place, no rain having fallen all
winter.
just before him was a drift of dead
trees. sticks and brush, left there by
the high waters of last September.
The nearest tree that would afford
him any protection was maple tree,
which was at one end of the drift. II
had been blasted by lightning, and the
top, where it was splintered consider.
ably, hung over, its lower branches
touching the drift.
The wolves gave him no time ia
choose better retreat, for they were
at his heels before he was aware, and
as he scrambled up the blighted maple
the leader of the gang snapped at hi,
leg. inf1icting no slight wound.
But soon Ed had drawn himself up
beyond their reach, and could deride
their disappointed howls and the fran.
tic efforts they made to get to him.
Had it been chilly day the young
trapper would have experienced great.
er discomfort than he did. But the sun
shone brightly, and if he had brought
a piece of dried meat with him to an.
pease his hunger he assured himself he
could have laughed at his unpleasant
situation. All day the wolves surround.
ed him, uttering their dismal cries, a,
if bedlam had been let loose.
| When the sun disappeared the even
ing air grew chilly. Ed began to feel
numb, and ceased to mock at the gang
at the foot of the tree.
This being freed by almost score OF
hungry prairie wolves, out of all reach
of human aid, and with only one ball
left in his revolver, was far more seri-
GUS business til n Sd had at first
thought.
1t was uncertain when his father
would return from the traders camp,
perhaps not before morning.
! Should blizzard come sweeping
over the prairie, Ed knew he would be
frozen stiff as poker.
Fumbling about in his pockets - dis
covered Il few matches, which put i new
idea into his head.
Wolves were shy of fire. If he could
only succeed in getting the heaps OF
dry brush and sticks of the drift below
him to ignite, he might frighten hi.
tormentors away.
He resolved to put his scheme into
execution.
Removing his heavy hunting jacket
he applied one of the burning matches
to it. The jacket was made of buck.
skin and took fire easily.
It was soon burning brightly, and Sc.
lccting place in the drift suitable tc
quick ignition, Ed let the blazing coat
drop.
1t was not slow in comm ,nicating its
flames to the dry twigs an.>~3 which il
had fallen.
The young trapper watched TIE fire
spread with great delight.
At first the wolves had fallen back
from the foot of the maple only few
steps, but as the fire crept steadily
toward them, burning more vigorously
every moment, they beat swift re.
treat and stood bowling from a safe
distance.
Ed was congratulating himself on
the success of his plan when he discov
cred that he was surrounded by fire.
The drift was heaped up all around
the trunk of the blasted tree, and this
was all ablaze before he knew it.
He dared not jump from the tree TO,
fear of landing in the midst Of the fire
His situation became more dangerous
every minute. The wolves seemed tc
be deriding him now.
The smoke almost suffocated him
while the heat from the flames was fast
becoming uncomfortable.
A new danger suddenly presented it.
self. The dead branches of the tree
| vl,i01, 10rvDoT - l..;%