The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-17

more than once to check his descent. It
a direct line, so he continually tackled,
bearing first to the right and then lar
over to the left. The smOothness OF the
snow sometimes compelled such long
tacks that when he had gone fully a
hundred yards, he found himself only
few feet above his starting point once,
to his disgust he was actually lower.
From this it viii be understood how
laborious was tho task he had set him.
self. Few would have pushed on in the
face of such difficulties, trying enough
to exhaust the most athletic frame. But
the youth had made known his purpose
to his parents, before leaving home, and
he grimly resolved to reach the top II II
took him the entire day.
And that is precisely the time 1t did
take. 1t WAS growing dusk when at last
he reached the crest so worn out that
he could nor have gone dozen yards
further. He had eaten his lunch long
before and felt half fauiished. but he
had discovered. signs OF the movements e;
of the fur-bearing animals, and was well
pleased, therefore, with the result OF his
days work. He had learned what he
had set ont to learn. and was now pre-
But never was Olaf so utterly worn.
out. Although little labor was involved
in the arrowy descent, ne must Keep ms
wits abou. him, so as to act surely and
instantly in steering clear of the few
rocks and trees in his path.
II shall rest a little while, was his
skees in a much more comfortablet post
IRE than it would seem possible to Sc
cure.
| He dropped asleep Immediately. and
there is no knowing how long he would
have slept had he not been awakened
by a startling occurrence.
During his brief sleep the full moon
rose above the far horizon. When he
opened his eyes, everything around
seemed as light as day. The few stinted
pines cast clear-cut shadows on the gieam-
ir,cr VIII ta l11T whenever Il
rection he Sazed he could distinguish OBJ
| jects for long way
He did not need TO see lar, however,
Not six feet off and directly before him,
stood an Immense wolf. as motlonlesS as
a statue, looking sharply at the doubled
up figure. He had approached so stealth
awoIle MIN. 1t must have been that sub
| tie sense which often gives us warning
of the approach of danger which other
wise would be fatal
Evidently the great animal was puzzled
at what he saw. He was not accus-
toned to come upon man III that po-
/ ing at the throat of the youth, until some
sort of explanation should present itself.
Olaf although startled, was cool and
seE ossessed g, Quietly passing rsr his right
volver and discharged two chambers at
the riotionless wolf, which was so near
that it was impossible to miss With
yelD of mortal pain the brute leaped into
the air, doubled up like a jack knife,
and after a few convulsive struggles lay
still on the snow.
And then Olaf made still more alarm
ing discovery. AS ne rose to a crouching
position. like a byciclist under full speed,
| it seemed to him that there were suddenly
hundreds of wolves around him. all wait
ing the result of their leaders reconnois-
sance. They echoed the piercing cries
of the fallen brute. Then they converged
with headlong haste toward him and the
young man on the snow shoes.
Fully score of the animals Sprang saw
aSely at their fallen companion, and fight
snarling, clawing, biting, literally tore
fairly left the body. They were frenzied
with the scent of blood.
This temporary diversion might mean
life and it might mean death, for the
youth who had brought the leader low.
None could have understood his danger
better than he, and none certainly could
have faced ii more cOOlly.
Inasmuch as the fighting group of brutes
were Immediately in his path, Olaf was
Obliged to diverge considerably to- the
with with all the ps energy ss at command, but it
took d few moments to acquire Roadway
aid, before he could do 50, the pack were
DlLLging after him.
Casting one glance over his shoulder
Olaf sax !. huge, Saunt creature in the
very act of leaping at his shoulder He
ducked his head and the wolf barely
missed him, striking the snow just to the
left and rolling over several times before
he regained his feet. Looking back, the
fugitive saw the bowling horde bearing
down upon MIN With the speed of the
wind. fsfa
BIT the iron muscles of the youth were
working like a steam engine He was
nov very glad of the steep ascent which
had given him such Z hard climb, for now
he had tul benefit or the law of gravity,
and he was soon shooting downward with
dIZZying velocity ts
Olaf's descent was like the fight of
meteor The feetest animal could not
keep pace with it, ana with a grim smile
or his honest countenances he rose more
nearly to the upright posture, looked back
and emitted 4 cry OF triumph.
The shout was premature. CHANGING
again to the front, a dozen or more
wolves appeared in his path. and so close
that it was imposs bic to avoid them by
turning TO the right or left, Instantly he
Sn1Iatten and hrnn2 ut the lone mole to the