Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-03-10

voice. yet Though she had often
| heard it said that a wolf alone would
I not attack a man. she knew there
was danger from famished wolf.
especially If the chase was long
enough for the wolf 10 become ia
miiiar with their appearance. Bu'
the wolf. after running swiftly a
short distance. with his nose TO ;he
ground 10 make sure Of the nearness
Of his intended prey, sat down with
his face toward the opposite shore
aud gave a succession of long drawn
howls, the signal that game was
started :" a signal that was we'll known
and dreaded by our first settlers.
No pen can describe the sound :
and Vet these children knew and un-
drrStood its awful meaning, and did
not need the More wolves = that
burst from the purl.liug lips OF the
overtasked girl 10 tell them OF their
impending doom
1t had seemed impossible to run any
faster. but at the sound OF those
howls, Thursa fairly flew over the
ice. not even noticing the extra
weight cyrusrd ~ tsls iaaas. fsia,htsned
ZiGa. who had fallen half IN the s'ed
box. until lie walled 20 sister /
can't run another step
Without attempting 10 stay the
sled, she raised the tongue with one
hand aud allowed the sled TO run past
her. Then she caught the now al
most faiutinE boy aud lifted him in
to the sled box rs she bounded 10
the front again, she said Get
ready TO do what tell you've
I've plan"
She could now see a little way
ahead OF them the mouth of the lit
rle river" Her only hope lay in gain
Ing that before the wolves should col
lect. As the wind was blowing mp the
river, there was possible chance
that their cries might be- heard at 'he
settlement; but she had taken no
more than a dozen steps when Isaac
cried out, There's another wolf ~
Tho heavy sled with its precious
load was telling upon her, but this
confirmation OF her worst fears 'e-
uewed her tagging strength. The
huge sled swaved from side to side AT
every step with the tremendous im-
petus she gave it,, aud her clumsy. i'll
shapen moccasiu-like shoes, OF which
she had complained bitterly only this
morning. were standing her in good
stead now-ev-n better than for the
push-slide which she had enjoyed in
going down in the GfternoOn-foT
every football told without slipping.
Though the blood was surging through
her veins, throbbiug against her eyes,
almost binding her, and her breath
came in quick, hard gasps, each one
an actual pain, the brave girl never
once really thought OF herself. The
horrid picture Of the two boys torn TO
pieces by The wolves was all that she
sawl She herself seemed only some
fIving object Of anxious, throbbing,
brrathless agony. Gould she save
the boys ?' was the question which
mingled itself constantly in her mind
with the little prayer which she had
said every night and morning since
she could speak; and although every
particle Of energy of both body and
mind was put into her running, she
was still dimly conscious Of her final
plan Of action should the wolves over
take them.
She knew that more wolves must
come. after the second one made his
appearance. and thought she wa-
prepared for them: but the sudden
announcement, in the now almost
frenzird screams from the boys, that
more wolves are coming down the
bank from the other shOre-more
than " can count e. made her stRgger
pitilully for moment.
The controlling sense Of her great
duty TO save the boys soon steadird
her. however. aud she cried out ia
sharp command through "A hard
drawn breath cut between each word
Boys s-stop-your-screaming. =
Though fear was fast overcoming
the poor boys they needed her tones
Of command enough TO speak lower;
but. oh. how their voices shook as
they announced the last move Of the
savage pack. They are coming
straight across-Oh, Thursa lhursa .
The other two are coming right at Us .
They're all on the trail now Oh
Oh -
4 short yelping howl announced
the start. Even Lefore Thursa could
fully comprehend what the boys had
said. the wolves had met on their
trail and were in full pursuit.
There may be some code Of honor
among wolves, which demand that
the Grst 10 scent game takes the lead
in chasing down. In this case the biz
gray fellow kept the lead, the rest
coming ia a struggling pack close be
hind. For few seconds the boys
gazed spellbound at the swiftly gal
loping beasts, and then, no longer
able 70 bear the sight. they huddled
down into the box with sInothered
screams.
Thursa realized the movement, and
in the silence that followed she dis
tinctly heard the scratching psttsr o.
the approaching feet.
Throw on; something r. she gasped
Isaac understood the words only
and the next moment she heard one
Of his crutches ring out on the lee.