St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-11
THE ESCAPE.
Clinton scollard in Munsey's Magazil

Brandon Banner.
1t was wild scene in Bohemia. along
the base of the Erzgebirge mountains
and on the banks of the frozen Eyer.
The snow lay upon the ground, but so
hardly concealed that the sharp, iron
shoes of our swift-going beast scarcely
more than indent it.
GLOW far now to Carlsbad" | said to
the driver.
"Four leagues" he answered.
"At this rate, then, how much longer
on the road?''
1.-Two hours"
THE sun is about that high"
1--WE shall enter the town at early
candle-light.'
On we went, up hill and down. the
merry bells ringing clearly i'll the frozen
air.
At length we reached and slowly
assembled a long, steep elevation, whose
descent. by narrow, winding road, or
path, led down again to the banks OF
the frozen Eyer, along here and there
PERCEPTIONS lodges, over which chance
slide might be fatal.
The horse suddenly slipped. lost his
feet and rolled down the incline, and
broke his harness badly. We had re-
ceved no injury, which was wonderful.
Heres an unfortunate situation"
said Jules.
"Thank God that we have come to
halt at last with our bones whole,
said /.
There was no use in considering, de-
batting, or complaining; we both saw
exactly what we had to do, and who had
to do it, and so we both went to work
with will.
When we at last reached the highway
again, all safe and ready to resume our
journey, the sun was down, and the
gloom of twilight was upon us.
''HoW far now, Jules?'
1.-Two leagues, STRIP
had just taken my seat again in the
vehicle aud Jules had gathered up the
rains for fresh start when solitary.
distant, dismal howl was borne to our
ears.
MAY God be merciful to us this
nightp calculated the driver as he
started the horse forward, but with
caution that showed how much lie feared
sudden strain upon the harness.
For perhaps minute after the first
call we heard no answer and we were
just beginning to hope that none would
be given, when another dismal howl in
uliCCIIOu 1Cll uDOli Jul
This was quickly followed by another
a dozen OH all sides: Our horse raised
his head with terrified snort and
sprung forward at a gallop.
Let him co." | said to Jules, feeling
my hair rise with horror.
1T won't save uSn' returned the lat
ter, despairingly. ''If the beast were
free from his traces he couldn't outrun
these hungry devils. Why, look there!
and there!" cried Jules, pointing with
his whip first to the right and then to
the left.
did look, and in either direction
perceived an unulating shadow moving
over the now star-lighted snow, at an
angle calculated to reach us at some I'M
known point.
"Mercful God!" I cried; "are we
doomed to die IN this manner. Faster!
JueS-faster!'
Don't you see he's doing his best
now, your honor? and ne cant gain an
inch on these devils"
1t was true; our gallant horse, AS
frightened as ourselves, was already on
a dead run. Aud yet. slowly, but stead
lily, the undulating shadows, to the
right and left, were closing in to the
central line; and the yelping crew be-
hind had gained on us little.
How far now, Jules?"
more than league. siri"
us there no place on the way where
we can stop? No dwelling, barn, stable
or hut that we can take refuge imp"
"There's hut about a mile ahead,
but how can we get into it? The
moment we stop these wolves will be
upon u.s."
Suddenly Jules turned his head and
exclaimed:
Quick. quick! your honor-have
you sharp knife!'
Yes"
Quick, then. Give 1t to mel"
81 tore off my glove, whirled back
the furs and outer garments, thrust my
hand into pocket, and brought forth
long, Spanish clasp-knife, which opened
with spring.
He took it with delberation his ex-
cited words had not led me to expect;