Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-03

mp the cnase again Us though notning
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 moro in quick success.
sion.
His heart sank within him. and for
moment ho was tempted 10 give up the
struggle.
AZ the horse, startled by the renewed
bowling of tho pursuing pack, dashed
off again. trembling and perspiring,
Lukc's eye caught tho sight Of dark
object lying on the snow ahead of him.
1t was n rifle, the lost property no doubt
Of one of the native mail carriers.
Guiding the horse directly toward It
he leaned down suddenly from the sad.
die and ia ho rushed past made a quick
snatch nj 1t.
Tho horse swerving at this critical
moment he missed his aim. and foolishly
making n second attempt overbalancod
himself, and with cry OF horror shot
hcadforemost into the snow, while his
riderless horse Numbered op his course.
For n second Luke lay tlunnod aud
dizzy. tho bowling Of the wolves ring.
ing family in his ears. Then, pulling
himself upright, he looked eagerly
around him.
Horror upon horrors. The foremost
wolf, great, gaunt creature, with blood
red jaws. was nearly upon him. Now,
seeing his prey 50 still, dofcnseless-
within hio grasp at last-tho brute came
stoalthily forward. with snoal,ing tread,
Luke shouted at him, but the wolf
only growled. Picking up the rifle. he
snapped 1t in vain, and then, Selling IL
by tho barrel, ho swung it around his
body.
With u furious spring tho wolf was
upon him. He dimly saw tho giaiing
eyes close TO his own, felt the hot breath
ON his neck, and then heard u binding.
dcalening report ringing close 20 his
ears, after which lao know no more.
Strange faces We're bending over him
when ho rogainod consciousness. In,
roscucrB were tine Russians from tile
mining camp. who had hustcncd TO hls
aid when the fire, bullets were fired. A
fortunate shot had killed Luko's assnil.
ant in the nick Of timo. and the roman.
der of tho pack, cheated of their human
prey, had gone ON pursuit Of tho horse.
Luke was carried to the camp--it was
ouly two miles awny-and by tho fol.
lowing day he was feeling himself again.
The mystery was cleared up ut last.
The fate Of tho two natives was only too
clear, and In addition one Of the Rus.
mans from the camp had doubtless me,
the Same death, for lie had made an at
tempt to reach Nladivostok week be.
fore and had not been heard from since.
Half a dozen Of them venturcd on,
fully armed, and found all the mail bags
and the bones of Luke's poor horse. No
trace OF the two luckloss natives was
discovered, aud nothing was seen of the
wolves either. Probably tho remnant
Of the pacl; had been frightened out OF
the noighhorhood.
Two days later, Luke was escorted
back TO Nladiyustok, and was eagerly
welcomed by Captain Shanof, who was
overjoyed to see him safe and sound.
The commandant wished the brave
young fellow to spend some time with
him, but Luke declined. Ho had seen
quito enough of Siberia, and Tho next
steamer took him back to Shanghai, for
he was more than satisfied with his OK.
porience with Russian wolves. Now
York Recorder.