Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-13

o oSes we're s, COMP orward At Top speed.
Thn aulnk me Every bound.
&C., was noN re t&zas for cslcula-
ou, threw ID vhrosatz Sawn among
.ae oli cans as enREss0s say. and
started of at my tt RAGS speed.
re moon was pit brightly again,
ano l was clear of khe forest had
developed almost y sueed of an ex-
press tram; my SKA ts scarcely seemed
TO touch the ice. Twas fvinr In the
air rather than skating.
Trees, brush and samps went by like
olros' and the low lelds and woods
took on the revolsikg aspect which
every child has seen While looking from
the window OF a moviiz car.
And as l look back how I could see
the wolves chasing aldpg the margin,
strainiSg every nerve 10 overcome me,
and they were succeeding, and every
bound brought them cItser.
had gone i've miles more, and less
than 500 yards sepsratld u.s. At the
same rate OF progress could go five
miles further, and THIN the wolves
would pull me down. stiIl seven miles
from home.
/ began to gasp ont Sme prayers,
and then something In N u heart told me
to skate faster. / put out another
effort, and when my bodylresponded to
the impulse OF the mind felt aston
ished.
My pace had increased to sn extent
which would never have believed pos
siOle. To-day IL seems like miracle TO
me; and. strange TO say, never tired.
NV wind, that was weakening. came
ba r. pains that were growing in nv
&c and stomach had disappeared, and
my legs grew like bars and springs OF
steel.
Still the wolves gained. but their gain
was not so rapid. / had made the eight
miles. had come to the spot where |
had thought TO die, and / was still 200
yards ahead OF my pursuers.
In the next mile they gained about
$50 yards aud then only so yards separ-
sted us.
Then the pack took TO the ice, which
was smoother than glass, aud within
two minutes they had lost so yards.
thought / saw chance for saliva
tion there, but in moment they were
on shore again, barking witt fury and
racing with increased speedA
could see their red tong hes in the
moonlight, and the white FOAM flying
from their jaws.
Soon they had recovered tlHst' oround
and the foremost wolf was almost
abreast Of me. Pst Ashed along upon
the ice slio, ed, and then. with almost
nf ha lnaA his m =
| am and fell behind,
was skating In the middle OF the
stream.
A moment later another wolf darted
out upon the Ice. bending his course so
as to intercept me. held my way un-
I'll within five feet OF the spot where he
should have met and then, swerving
suddenly away from him, described a
curve and went on, leaving the animal
! bowling and gnsshing his teeth.
Again and again these tactics were
repeated. Once the leading wolf fairly
intercepted me, but my uncle's az was
ready. / knew its use, and / left the
brute dead and bleeding with one blow
| from II.
But such q running fight could not
continue. l was still three miles from
home. The wolves had seen the hope
lessness OF their mode OF attack, and
were beginning to string themselves out
along the bank ahead Of and behind me.
At that rate MY death was certain
within q mile. There would be wolves
to Intercept me II advanced, and wolves
to cut me Off II retreated, and TO take
to the opposite bank was also sure
death.
At this point saw, on the left bank,
a little deserted cabin, about a quarter
| OF a mile head. II could reach that
before my pursuers began 10 close In l
might be safe.
mad almost reached the goal when
the wolves ahead began to shoot out
over the ice, completely cutting of my
escape up the river
Then the ones far ahead came dash
Ing back toward me, and the others In
the pack began to close In from behind
aud at the sides.
wrs the objective point IN semi
circle Of so ravenouS man-killing beasts,
aud the door OF the cottage was my
only hope.
1 picked out the wolf that would
reach IL first.
II all occurred in space OF tess than
90 seconds. shot up to the bank Ike
like stone from oatapult.
The wolf was ahead OF me, but leav-
Ing the ice with bound, and with the
tremendous momentum which / bad ac-
uuired, few into the air like a bird
and, passing over the brute's head,
landed squarely on my feet and 10
flash had reached the door OF the cot
tage, 40 feet away.
To rush inside and slam the door was
the work Of second, but the whole
pack was behind me. They paused for
a moment, and In that time l saw that
there was no fastening to the door. The
cabin had bee stripped even OF It's bolts.
The upper floor was gone, but the
rafters were there, three feet above my
head, but hastily thrusting the AZ In my
belt l gave gave q leap. grasped one
of them, and drew myself up.
Then q dozen bodies were dashed
against the door, and the room oelo"
me was filed with the pack.
They howled, snsrled and screamed
with fury and disappointment. They
dashed themselves against the walls and
bounded up toward the rGfters.
Sometimes, such was their hunger
and desperation. they actually secured
a hold near me. but then my al came
into play. and they fell back, cut and
bleeding. upon their fellows.
Then another idea struck me Work
,oward tho door I climbed
partially down. and, with long strip
of wood which found lying across the
rafters, / slammed the door shut. !
then thrust the strip into q crevice 10
the door casing, and with nail which