Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-06-30

and his strides growing feeblsr and
feehler.
The wolves were = dozen yards be-
hind and gaining fast.
Luke turned again and fired. and ~
he aimed to give them second shot .
dire accident befeil him. The barrel of
the revolver caught In the fur trim
mings Of his coat and dropped to the
ground. leaving him absolutely at the
mercy Of his savage foes.
Sick with despair he made one last
effort To escape. leaning forward ON the
horses neck aud urging the brave ami.
mai 10 greater speed. ln moment
more horse and rider would have been
evertaken and dragged 10 the ground.
when suddenly the sound Of running
water reached Luke's ears, and some
distance before him down the slope Of
the hill ha saw low. deep ravine cross
ing the path.
A little closer and he saw distinctly
what was before him. A mountain
stream, In ordinary times mere brawl-
ing brook, but now swollen by rain to q
rushing torrent, swept between two
steep banks Here was a chance for
safety. II he could only leap the gulf
his ravenous pursuers might be left be-
hind.
Leaning forward ON his horses neck
he urged him ON with one last, despair
ing effort.
The brave animal thundered down the
hill, still ahead of the bowling pack,
reached the brink of the gorge, rose
without hesitation into the air and came
down safely ON the other side.
The wolves, rushing blindly on,
plunged over the edge of the precipice,
and though some Of them perished on
the sharp rocks. the remainder. strug-
Cling down into deep pool some yards
below, SWAN through the icy waters to
the bank, and struggling to the top took
mp the chase again as though nothing
had happened.
Luke, fifty yards in front by this time,
looked back just ms the topmost wolf
came In sight over the bank, followed
by half a dozen more in quick success
sion.
His heart sank within him, and for q
moment he was tempted to give up the
struggle.
AS the horse, startled by the renewed
bowling of the pursuing pack, dashed
of again, trembling and perspiring,
Luke's eye caught the sight Of dark
object lying on the snow ahead of him.
II was a rifle, the lost property no doubt
of one of the native mail carriers.
Guiding the horse directly toward it
he leaned down suddenly from the sad
die and as he rushed past made quick
snatch at it.
The horse swerving at this critical
moment he missed his aim, and foolishly
making a second attempt overbalanced
himself, and with cry of horror shot
headforemost into the snow, while his
riderless horse thundered ON his course.
For second Luke lay stunned and
dizzy, the bowling Of the wolves ring
ing family in his ears. Then, pulling
himself upright. he looked eagerly
around him.
Horror upon horrorsl The foremost
wolf, great, gaunt creature, with blood
red jaws. was nearly upon him. Now,
seeing his prey so still, defenseless--
within his grasp at last--the brute came
stealthily forward. with sneaking tread.
Luke shouted at him, but the wolf
only growled. Picking mp the rifle, he
snapped il in vain, and then, seiKing il
by the barrel, he swung 1t around his
body.
With furious spring the wolf was
upon him. He dimly saw the glaring
eyes close TO his own, felt the hot breath
on his neck, and then heard binding.
deafening report ringing close to his
ears, after which he knew no more.
Strange faces were bending over him
when he regained consciousness. His
rescuers were the Russians from the
mining camp, who had hastened to his
aid when the first bullets were fired. A
fortunate shot had killed Luke's assail-
ant in the nick of time, and the remain
der OF the pack, cheated OF their human
prey, had gone on in pursuit of the horse.
Luke was carried TO the camp-it was
only two miles away--and by the fol
lowing day he was feeling himself again.
The mystery was cleared mp Mt last.
The fate OF tha two natives was only too
clear. and in addition one Of the Rus
slams from the camp had doubtless met
the same death, for he had made an at
tempt to reach Vladivostok week be-
fore and had not been heard from since.
Half dozen of them ventured out
fully armed. and found all the mali bags
and the bones Of Lnke's poor horse. No
trace OF the two luckless natives was
discovered, and nothing was seen OF the
wolves either. Probably the remnant
Of the pack had been frightened out Of
the neighborhood.
Two days later. Luke was escorted
back to vladivostok, and was eagerly
welcomed by Captain shanoff, who was
overjoyed 10 see him safe and sound.
The commandant wished the brave
young fellow 10 spend some time with
him, but Luke declined. He had seen
quite enough Of Siberia, and the next
steamer took him back TO Shanghai, for
he was more than satisfied with his ex-
perience with Russian wolves.
York Recorder.