Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-06-08


NAL to greater speed. In a moment
more horse and rider would have been
svertaken and dragged to the ground,
when suddenly the sound of running
water reached Luke's ears, and some
distance before him down the slope of
the hill he 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
rushing torrent, swept between two
steep banks. Here was chance for
safety. If 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 Numbered 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 persisted on
the sharp rocks, the remainder, strug-
Cling down into a deep pool some yards
below, swan through the icy waters to
the bank, and struggling to the top took
up the chase again as though nothing
had happened.
Luke, fifty yards in front by this time,
looked back just as the topmost wolf
came in sight over the bank, followed
by half dozen more in quick success
sion.
His heart sank within him, and for a
moment he was tempted to give up the
struggle.
AS the horse, startled by the renewed
bowling of the pursuing pack, dashed
off again, trembling and perspiring,
Lukes eye caught the sight of dark
object lying on the snow ahead of him.
1t was rifle, the lost property no doubt
of one of the native mail carriers.
Guiding the horse directly toward il
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 second attempt overbalanced
himself, and with cry of horror shot
headforemost into the snow, while his
riderless horse Numbered on his course.
For second Luke lay stunned ani
dizzy, the bowling of the wolves ring
ing family in his ears. Then, pulling
, himself upright, he looked eagerly
! around him.
Horror upon horrors! The foremos
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 cam,
i stealthily forward, with sneaking tread
; Luke shouted at him, but the vol
only growled. Picking up the rifle, h,
< snapped it in vain, and then, seizing i
Y by the barrel, he swung it around hi
q body.
With a furious spring the wolf wa
upon him. He dimly saw the glarini
d eyes close to his own, felt the hot breatl
t on his neck, and then heard binding
n deafening report ringing close to hi
e ears, after which he knew no more.
o Strange faces were bending over hin
o when he regained consciousness. Hi
o rescuers were the Russians from til
mining camp, who had FASTENED to hi
v aid when the first bullets were fired. !
/ fortunate shot had killed Luke's assail
:, ant in the nick of time. and the remain
d der of the pack, cheated of their humai
prey, had gone on in pursuit of the horse
Luke was carried to the ,camp-it wa
# only two miles away-and by the ful
it lowing day he was feeling himself again
o The mystery was cleared up at last
y The fate of the two natives was only to
o clear, and in addition one of the Rus
/ slams from the camp had doubtless me
the same death, for he had made an ID
d tempt to reach Vladivostok week BIZ
IS fore and had not been heard from since
Half dozen of them ventured on
g fully armed, and found all the mail bag
d and the bones of Lukes poor horse. N
d trace of the two luckless natives wa
% discovered, and nothing was seen of til
n wolves either. Probably the remnan
{, of the pack had been frightened out c
o the neighborhood.
y Two days later, Luke was escorte
back to Vladivostok, and was eagerl
n welcomed by Captain Shanoff, who wa
g overjoyed to see him safe and sound.
The commandant wished the bray
h young fellow to spend some time wit
d him, but Luke declined. He had see
10 quite enough of Siberia, and the ne,
i steamer took him back to Shanghai, fc
70 he was more than satisfied with his e,
perience with Russian wolves.-Ne'
d York Recorder.