Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-12-08

the deep transverse ruts, and our nea
horse 1--WE were driving three abreast
gave an ugly tug mt the traces, as h
swayed outward from his place. TIL
count, now fully awake, cried out
Ivan 1vanovitch, are you forget
ting whom you are driving2"
" No, gracious excellency," tn,
man replied, but his lordshlp'
horse, Petrovitch, Is restive."
Almost ut the instant, the hors
gave a second pull, which was so VIC
lent that the Who'll" kibitka wa
jerked aslant.
Something is out oil gear with tn
harness ~ called the count, "let on
OF the grooms see to 1t.
The two footmen were half asleep
and I could hear Ivan muttering t,
them, while he was bringing tn
sledge to less rapid motion.
Suddenly there was cry, piercing
and petulent, like q peevish child.
u cry which made my blood curdl,
in my veins. 1glanced ut the Count
ess Stephanie and saw her face blanch
as she shrank into the corner of TIN
sledge. The count sprang to hi
feet and the awful word was spoken
wolves ~
In an instant, the horses having
heard that cry, felt some subtle sense
of fright, which hastcned their speed
The count unlocked his pistol case,
I noticed that he was calm, and that
he fitted the key into the lock with
accuracy.
"Arc you arned?" he asked me. I
drew my pistol from my pocket, as he
spoke.
II have never heard OF the brutes
coming so far south at this season, "
he said. Then he turned to the count
ess. "Be very calm, my daughter"
he said, your father will defend
YOU"
"Pm not afraid" was the proud
reply, though her voice was thick
and her lips trembled. The count
turned quickly, and cut the straps
which held tho closed opening at the
back OF the sleigh.
Crouch down, my child" he said
to the Countess Stcphanie; crouch
down in the bottom of the sledge and
cover your head with this rug May
heaven shield thee!"
All the concentrated love of pater.
nifty was in his voice.
"Itsik, you are your pistols
rcady?' he said next.
Ready, excollency," was the re.
ply.
The count and ! pecred into the
darkness through the opening Of the
sleigh. Behind us there appeared n
movement like u rolling cloud, re-
sembling dust at night.
"They are upon us!' the count
exclaimed, and fired. As l initiated
him / heard the countess give u
little stiiled scream. On came that
moving column, and the cries OF
angry, ravcnous mouths filled the a.l
with deep and ominous rumble.
How they were gaining on Us +!
Ivan Ivanovitch was yelling to his
horses, and they, brave creatures,
strained every nerve and muscle to
obey his commands. A sudden awful
thought passed through me. What
II there were something really wrong
with tho harness! How long could
any mal.ad ustment stand the strain ?
Somewhere from the recesses OF
memory came the recollection Of a
story | had once read. OF hunting
wolves in u battue in Russia, and
thnt IL was stated there that unac.
customed and peculiar sounds had a
terrifying effect upon these beasts
even that Gathering OF pans could
accomplish what pistols failed to do.
Again I fired into the approaching
mass OF yelping horror. As my hand
resumed its position after doing so,
1t touched tho cold surface OF the
little silver siren which hung upon
my watch chain.
Instantly 1t flashed upon mo to try
its effect upon this pack Of hungry
wolves. ! put 1t to my lips, and with
oil the strength Of my lungs forced
that weird crescendo Lote into the Icy
night, A writing serpent OF the air
was that python OF sound, which
struck its piercing sting into the
frightened hearts Of those wild
beasts.
The young countess tainted dead
away. The horses gained electric
fear from what they thought was
some new terror in pursuit, but, best
Of all-miracle as 1t has ever seemed
that pack Of angry wolves, with a
believing howl OF fear, tumbled pell.
nell into the black depths Of the for
est and disappeared like column OF
smoke whose force Is spent!
As they did so, Ivan lvanovitch
cried out that the lights OF Riga were
In sight, and we were saved
A year later l was again in Regent
street, but not alone nor defeated
nor depressed, for Stephanie was
there!
was showing her the shop where
! had bought the silver siren!
Now take me, dearest, to the
place where you bought my wedding
ring" she said. Ibid you not say
that that was near Bond street,"
"Yes, near Bond, Stephanie,"
began, but this has nothing to do will
the story OF the silver siren, which
has now been told.