Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-08-16
A RACE FOR LIFE.

hou oio krhNo ihuit-no was huulCtcu tO
practical tokinH Ono day Potor had been
at work u few miles from his home Aftor
his days labor was finished his employer
invited him 10 partako Of the evening inoal
with him. This invitation Peter accepted,
and then, his system fortified with "a hearty
supper, ho commenced his journey home.
ward.
IL was dark, cold December hight.
The wind swept fltfully among tho great
pines and beechos, and strange, moaning
sounds went sobbing through the forest.
Now and then AN owl uttered its boarso
cry, or tho sudden rattling Of the dead
leaves told where some timid animal SOUR
riod away from tho sound Of footsteps.
But Peter was strong and stout hearted
and trudged quietly along without paying
much attention To tho sights and sounds
around him, until no had achieved per-
haps one-half Of his journey, when sud
denly his ears caught tho sound Of a
horses feet descending tho long, rocky
path behind him. Gradually tho sound
drew nearer, until tho sharp, peculiar
voice Of the horseman could bo heard urg-
ing tho beast To faster gait
"Ahl ha" said Peter TO himself az he
heard the familiar tones; "that Is Uncle
Tom Barry"
Now, Uncle Tom and Peter were neigh
bors-that is to say, their olearings lay
about milo apart-and mono knew better
than Peter that tho old man was naturally
OF timid disposition, and, furthermore,
that nothing inpsired him with greater
fear, nothing that he had not rather meet,
than a wolf.
No sooner, therefore, had Peter become
convinced that tho horseman behind him
"a ri ha 10
this trait OF Uncle Toms as a means of
working out what he considered would be
most capital joke. His plans were soon
laid, and ne prepared TO put them into ex-
ecution. Creeping through tho under
growth which bordered his path, he
crouched down and patiently awaited tho
approach OF his Victim. He had not wait
cd long before Uncle Tom, his horse at
a sharp trot and himself casting timid
glances around, arrived opposite his place
OF ooncealment Potter allowed him to
pass few PAGES, and then, springing for
ward on his hands and knees, he uttered
one or two snarling yelps, followed by the
loud, clear, gathering cry of the wolves
The effect upon Uncle Tom was olec-
trioal. Springing half way out of his sad
de- he uttered scream Of terror, and
then, STOPPING until his head nearly
touched the name no plunged his spurs
into the horses fanks and was of down
the road like shot. AS for Peter he rolled
over on his back and kicked his heels In
hugo enjoyment OF bis success. Loud and
long he laughed, occasionally varying the
performance by making tho forest ring
with a repetition Of the wild, savage cry
that had struck such terror into Uncle
Toms timid heart
But there Is an end to all things, and 90
after awhile there was an end to Peters
mirth, and he wiping his eyes, regained
the path and was about to resume his jour-
ney, when he heard q sound that sent the
cold shivers coursing over his body and
almost froze the blood In his veins. The
wolves beard hh successful imitation Of
their music and were coming IN full cry
upon him.
Calling all his energies into play, he
dashed down the path with scarcely less
speed and terror than did Unole Tom Bar
ry himself. Peter was famous runner
and had come OF victor In many trial Of
speed when the people had come together
at a raising or log rolling, but this was no
holiday game. The race was for life.
Down the long slope that led to Pilkin's
hollow and up the ascent beyond fled Pc
ter while hardly 100 yards behind came a
snarling pack, hungry and flerce. The life
Of an unarmed man would not be worth a
minutes purchase could they once sur
round him.
Down another long slope, across a broad
sheet of ice at its foot and Letherbee's hill,
with its long, steep ascent, lay before him.
He shuddered as he glanced up Its rugged
side, for he felt that his strength would
hardly suffice to carry him to the top.
Still no kept on, though it seemed mad
ness to hope, for his pursuers had gained
on him fearfully; he knew it by the beat
ing Of their footsteps, but, with energy
inspired by mortal terror, he ran on, hop
ing to gain only tho brow of the hill, for
there the ground became more open, and
his own cabin was bat few yards beyond.
He felt sure that his pursuers would not
follow him beyond the summit, but could
he reach it before they would close upon
himp
No, not by his own exertions, for just as
the thought passed through his mind his
foot caught under gnarled root that ex-
tended across tho way, and he fell heavily
forward, his head struck tho frozen ground,
and he lay sensoless
When Peter recovered consciousness, he
found himself hanging over the broad
shoulders OF his brother John and about to
enter his own door. Here he soon collected
his scattered senses and was able to listen
intelligcntly to his brothers account of
his rescue
Uncle Tom Barry, in his flight, had
stopped at the cabin long enough to shout
through the window that tho wolves were
out and hurried on. John, who lived with
his brother, knowing that Peter must
come the samo path, took his gun and
walked out to tho edge Of the forest, where
no halted 20 listen. But short time
elapsed before he heard tho sound Of tho
pursued and pursuors, and rushing down
the hill ho arrived upon the scene just In
time to leap between Peters PROSTATE
form and the wolves, the foremost of whom
was less than ten feet distant. Taking
steady aim, he sent a bullet into the crca-
turo's brain, and then, while the pnck were
fighting over tho dead body Of their com