Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-20
A STORY FROM THE WOOLLY WEST
How Norwegian Boy Escaped OIL
SnOwshOes From Wolves.

How n Norwegian Boy Escaped ON
SnOwshOes From Wolves.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Last winter. when the snow lay full five
feet deep on a level in Colorado, Olaf Erics-
son. Norwegian youth Of eighteen years.
OUT as sturdy and as powerful al a full
grown man, left his home early In the
morning to go to the top Of Bear ridge to
learn what prospect there was Of trapping
end shooting the fur-bearing animals. 1t
was about eight miles to the crest Of the
ridge, and since he started early in the
Horning, with a lunch to serve him at
midday. he expected to be at home by sun
set OF course. all Of the labor of the
journey lay in getting to the top Of the
ridge. When he should face about ON his
return gravity would bring him back in a
few minutes,
Indeed, Olaf had once made the descent
on skees in little more than ten minutes.
II was prodiGious task, though, to work
mis- way to the top of the ridge. There had
peen a slight thaw couple of days before,
Followed by freeze, which resulted in
making the surface Of the snow almost as
smooth as ice. Repeatedly the youth found
himself slipping backward, and the brake
was applied more than once to check his
descent. 1t was absolutely impossible to
ascend in q direct line SO he continually
tackled" bearing first to the right and
then far over to the left. The smoothness
OF the snow sometimes compelled such long
JACKS that when he had gone fully 100
yards he found himself only q few feet
above his starting point. once, to his dis
gust, he was actually lower.
From this 1t will be understood how la
POROUS was the task he had set himself.
harye bad -
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 resolv-
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 not have gone a dozen yards farther.
He had eaten his lunch long before anu
fell half famished. but he had discovered
signs of the movement of the fur-bearing
animals and was well pleased, therefore,
with the result Of his days work. He had
learned what he set out to learn, and
was now prepared to return. But never
was Olaf so utterly worn out. Although
little labor was involved In the arrowy
descent he must keep his wits about him.
SO as to act instantly and surely in steer
ing clear Of the few rocks and trees in his
path. Il shall rest a little WHILE" was his
conclusion, as he sQuatted down on his
skees, in a much more comfortable posture
He dropped asleep immedia tely, and there
Is no knowing how long he would have
slept had he not been awakened by a star
Ting occurrence. During his brief sleep the
full moon rose above the far horizon. When
he opened his eyes everything around SEEM
ed as light as day. The few stunted pines
cast clear-cut shadows on the cleaning
white surface. but in which ever direction
he gazed he could distinguish objects for a
long way. He did not see far, however.
Not six feet Off, and directly before him,
stood an immense wolf. as motionless as a
statue, looking sharply at the doubled-up
that Olaf could not understand what had
awakened him. 1t must have been that
subtle sense which often gives us warning
of the approach Of danger which otherwise
would be fatal. Evidently the gaunt animal
was puzzled by what he saw. He was not
accustomed to come upon a man in that
position, and was hesitating before leaping
at the throat Of the youth until some sort
of explanation should present itself.
Olaf, though startled, was cool and self
possessed. Quietly passing his right hand
back to his hip he drew his revolver and
discharged two chambers at the motion
impossible to miss. With a yelp of mortal
pain the brute leaped into the air, doubled
up like jack-knife. and. after a few con-
vulsive struggles. lay still in the snow.
And then Olaf made a still more alarming
discovery. AS he arose to a crouching po-
sition, like a bicyclist under full speed II
seemed to him that there were suddenly
hundreds Of wolves around him that were
waiting the result of their leaders recon-
noisance. 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 a
score OF the animals sprang savagely at
their fallen companion, and fighting. snarl-
ing, clawing. biting. literally tore him limb
from limb before the breath had fairly left
his body. They were frenzied with the
Of ln<ad tic fnvv, a ~cG-~
might mean life. and II might mean death.
for the youth who had brought the leader
low. None could have understood the dan
ger better than he. and none certainly
could have faced II more coolly.
1nasmuch as the fighting group of brutes
were Immediately in his path. Olaf was
obliged to diverge considerably to the right
to avoid them. He shot forward with all
the energy at command, but it took a few
moments to acquire Roadway, and before
he could do so the pack were plunging after
him. Casting one glance over his shoulder
Olaf saw large gaunt figure in the very
act of leaping at his shoulders. He ducked
his head and the wolf barely missed him.
striking the snow just to the left and roll
ing over several times before he regained
his feet. Looking back the fugitive saw
the bowling horde bearing down upon him
with the speed of the wind. But the iron
muscles of the youth were working like
a steam engine He was now very glad of
the steep ascent which had given him such
fit of the law of gravitation, and he was
soon shooting downward with dizzying We
locity.
Oiaf's descent was like the fight of a
meteor. The fleetest animal could not keep
pace with it, and with a grim smile on his
honest countenance he rose more nearly to
the upright posture. looked back and emit
ted a cry of triumph. The shout was pre-
mature. CHANGING again to the front a
dozen or more wolves appeared in his path.
and so close that 1t was impossible to avoid
them by turning to the right or left. In
stantly he squatted and brought the long
pole to the fore. like the spear of boar
hunter when the brute is charging. holding
1t rigid with all the power at his command.
His charge was like the beak Of an IRON
clad under full steam. The wolves were
tumbled right and left from his path, knock
ed senseless by the terrific impact. The
next instant the youth was shooting be-
low them. Indeed, SO great was his speed
that within ten minutes he kicked of his
skees and entered the door of his own
house.