Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-03-15

dttcnllon was attracted by narrow creek, /
IA branch of the main stream, reaching out /
into the forest between c'eyaied banks, 80 /
inviting that he turned in and proceeded I
some distance up rs narrow wiudings into T
the wilderness The ice was cuarser here
than TINT on The nvcr and his Roadway /
less rapid, afioriing the better opportuui /
y 10 drink ia The exquisite beauty of Tie I.
sceucry. The hard crusted snow spurkled
and ghttered. The hard wood timber
intermiug'cd with The dark green foliage
OF The hcmlock, spruce aud pune, was more /
inviting than The skating on The rough and I
snow mixed ice. 30 from his skates lac
soon dismouuled, walking up the sloping
bank ana into the woodland strOlled Not
sound was heard save his foot steps on the
frosted SNOW. llarh sound breaks on
his ear Nov an brcuihless silence hu stands
The hair ON ms head stool up; as he lis
tens he hears his heart in lis own bosom
lhump He hears thai sound once more.
yeip, and repeated yelps. a pack Of
wolves Now 10 the creek with hasty
strides he goes. ms skates, with trembling
hands hc straps them To his feet. The
wolves are surely on his track and draw
ing near; ne knows that on his skating
skull bis life depends Speed is now his
fergen, prayer, which TINS rough iced
creek will not afford The wolves are
now in sight. an equal number on each
| hanE Tho uba :,
nerve TO reach the liver the leading wolf
on each bank Is now abreast with him
now they pass him. with The evident pur.
pose OF heading him of before he gets
there, aud nearly accomplishing their pur
! pose, as the leaders come down each bank
near the creeks mouth and were not more
than twenty feet apart when the skater
passed the narrow gap and reached the
rlvcr. This failure on the part of the
wolves seemed to disccncert their purpose,
! giving my friend TO believe the sharp
nosed whelps had given up the chase; but
he mstook them as they gave him notice
by their fearful yelps not far behind. Now
came the strain for utmC 81 speed, for man
as well rs beast. The race was unequal,
AS the wolves were at his heels and press
Ing him hard. and TO clear their grasp he
took a short circle on the ice while the
hungry pack went sliding along with snarl-
ing growls and swapping teeth This
trick threw the wolves INTO confusion +,
while the skater passed on with brighter
hopes but IN short time the infuriatod
pack were at his heels again, fiercer than
before; another circle on the ice threw
them into disorder AS before. the skater
gaining advantage by his circlng maneu-
vcrs; bat bis circling tactics were at an
end as he discovered on the next ralley Of
the wolves. which they made once again
with counter tactics with an impulse
seemingly superior TO animal instinct. As
IA few brought up the rear, the balance eX-
tending their line each way from the cen.
ter, forming the right and left wings, and
the chase was renewed with unabated fury
and they were at his heels once more with
their line extended from shore. To circle
| uON nOulh Dt SkdlllE lulO Aut ODtu Jaw =
of death. The fact that he was soon TO be
devoured seemed inevitable. In his heated
state of preparation and despair, he threw
off his hat TO cool his fevered brow. The
hat into shreds was torn, throwing the
wolves into disorder once more. Again
they rallied in better order than before.
The next stretch the skater held out as
long as safe to do, and then threw aside
his coat; this like the hat was torn IN trag-
merits, but not so quick, giving The skater
better start. He saw Two wolves in full
speed approaching from the other way; he
now resolved to hold the vest until he
meets the two and throw II out to them,
and hold himself altar that, the last and
dearest sacrifice. And as the two drew
near, be cried aloud for mercy but to his
grca, delight he recognized the familiar
bow WOW of the two baying hounds
that saluted him on his downward trip
they passed him like the wind. The
astonished wolves were hurrying back and
passing out OF sight when my friend com
menced sOliloquiZing thus The sweetest
music | ever heard was when those baying
hounds went past. Never did appreci-
ate SO fully rs now that friends in need
were friends indeed" Dogs are not so
bad after all want to thank their owner
for keeping dogs, and that he does not
keep them in, nor chained" While he
thus solloquized and slowly sauntered
the hounds returned with open mouths
and loling tongues. and played round
my friend. After the experience and les
son of the evening my friend returned
home wiser and more discrete person,
and friend to dogs.
w +. w
Absorbed.