The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-06-09
miscellaneous.
THE ESCAPE.

1t was Il wild scene in Bohemia,
along the base of the Erzegebirga
frozen Eyer. The snow lay upon the
ground, but so hardly CONCEALED that
the sharp iron shoes of our swift going
beasts scarcely more than indented it.
How far now to Carlsbad ?'' | said
to the driver.
-Four leagues he answered.
''At this rate, then, how much long
er on the road p
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 in the
frozen air.
At length we reached and slowly as
cended long, steep elevation, whose
descent, by II narrow winding road or
path, led down again to the banks of
the frozen Eyer, along here and there
precipitous edges over which a 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-
ceived no injury, which was wonder
1 full.
Here's an unfortunate situation"
said Jules.
'"rhank God that we have come to
a halt at last with our bones whole"
said l.
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, sir ~
81 had Just taken my seat again in
the vehicle and Jules had gathered up
the reins for fresh start when soil
tary, distant, dismal howl was borne
to our ears.
May God be merciful to us this
night ~ calculated the driver as he
started the horse forward, but with a
caution that showed how much he
feared sudden strain upon the har-
ness.
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
a different direction fell upon our ears.
This was quickly followed by another
and another, and then by not less than
a dozen on all sides. Our horse raised
his head with terrified snort and
| sprang forward at a gallop.
"Let him go ~ said to Jules, feel
| ing my hair rise with horror.
| "It won't save us" returned the lat
ter despairingIy ''If the beast were
free from his traces, he couldn't out
run these hungry devils. Why, look
there and there ~ cried Jules, point
ing with his whip first to the right and
then to the left.
Il did look, and in either direction
I perceived an undulating shadow
moving over the now star lighted snow
at an angle calculated to reach us at
\ some unknown point.
"Merciful God ~ cried. Are We
doomed to die in this manner, Fas,
y ter. Jules-faster -
Don't you see he's doing his best
now, your honor? And he can't gain
an inch on these devils"
1t was true. Our gallant horse, as
frightened as ourselves, was already
on q dead run. And yet, slowly but
steadily, the nndulating shadows to
the right and left We're closing in t6
the central line. and the yelpinS crew
behind had gained on us little.
How far now. Jules p
more than a league, sir"
SIS there no place on the way where
| we can stop? No dwelling, barn, sta
BILE or hut that we can take refuge in ?
There's Il hut about a mile ahead
bur how can we get into it, The mo
ment we stop these wolves will b.
/ upon u.s."
| Suddenly Jules turned his head an'
exclaimed:
"Quick. quick! your honor-hav'
you a sharp knife p
''Yesn
RI itQuick, then, Give it to met
AZ tore off my glove, whirled bacl
the furs and outer garments, thrus
INV hand into pocket and brough
forth a long Spanish claspknife, whicl
opened with Il spring.
He took it with Il deliberation hi
| excited words had not led Inc to eX
. d meet and then leaned forward over tn
\ front of the sleigh and for few mo
l ments seemed hard at work. Thel
| starting up suddenly he cut the rein
: with a single stroke of his knife and a
n smart blow with his whip. Befor
I had time to ask what all this mean
| comprehended what had been done
He had cut the traces, the horse wa
leaving us, and we were running b
our own momentum.
sit was our only chance" said Jules
; 4 pointing to the hut just before III
about opposite of which judged tn
still fast moving sleigh would stoI
stHal we passed that L fear ther
wouldn't have been any nope.
"And what hope now?" l cried
despair. -, .;.,,
/. wild, hysterical laugh, you see, don
YOU? They're passing us to the rlgf
'' and left in full chase of the fyln
horse. which they'll catch and destro
before they'll come back for us =
1t was true. They were passing L
to the right and left, and in less tina
= half a minute the hindmost was ahea
of us. and the whole yelling pack wa
in eager chase of the noble beast thu
had done his best to save US.
Waiting only to be certain thaG Il
Eprowler was near lis, we gathered u
all our loose coverings and ran Tor OF
lives to the shanty. Ii was old an
/ untenanted, and the front door WI
+. fast. This was a terrible shock to OF
hopes. We ran to the rear door TN
I'VE must get in p fairly sereal
, ed.
; "That window ~ said Jules hurrle
s ly: sif could only reach it p
"Here, mount upon my snouloeFs