Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-02
A RACE FOR LIFE.

at WORK rev miles from his home. After
his days labor was finished his employer
invited him to partake of the evening meal
with him. This invitation Peter accepted,
and then, his system fortified with hearty
supper, he commenced his journey home
ward.
1t was dark, cold December night.
The wind swept fitfully among the great
pines and bceches, and strange, moaning
sounds went sobbing through the forest.
Now and then an owl uttered its boarse
cry, or the sudden rafting of tho dead
leaves told where some timid animal sour
ried away from the sound of footsteps
But Peter was strong and stout hearted
and.trudged quietly along, without paying
much attention to the sights and sounds
around him, until he had achieved per-
haps one-half of his journey, when sud
denly his ears caught the sound of
horses feet descending the long, rocky
path lehind him. Gradually the sound
drew nearer, until the sharp, peculiar
voice OF the horscman could be heard urg-
ing the beast to faster gait.
"Ah! ha!" said Peter to himself as he
heard tho familiar tones; ''that is Uncle
Tom Barry"
Now, Uncle Tom and Peter were neigh
bors-that is to say, their clearings lay
about mile apart-and none knew better
than Peter that the old man was naturally
of timid disposition, and, Furthermore,
that nothing inpsired him with greater
fear, nothing that he had not rather meet,
than Il wolf
No sooner, therefore, had Peter become
convinced that the horseman behind him
was his neighbor than he resolved to use
this trait of Uncle Toms as a means of
working out what he considered would be
q most capital joke. His plans were soon
laid, and he prepared to put them into ex-
ecution. Creeping through the under
growth which bordered his path, he
crouched down and patiently awaited the
approach of his victim. He had not wait
ed long before Uncle Tom, his horse at
a sharp trot and himself casting timid
glances around, arrived opposite his place
of concealment. Peter allowed him to
pass q 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.
Tho effect upon Uncle Tom was cleo
trical. Springing half way out of his sad
die, he uttered q scream of terror and
then, STOPPING until his head nearly
touched the mano, he plunged his spurs
into the horses TANKS and was off down
the road like ii shot. AS for Peter he rolled
over on his back and kicked his heels in
huge enjoyment Of his success. Loud and
long he laughed, occasionally varying the
performance by making the forest ring
with a repetition of the wild, savage Cry
that had struck such terror into Uncle
Tom timid heart
But there is an end TO all things, and so
after awhile there was an end to Peters
mirth and he, wiping his eyes, rcgainod
the path and was about to resume his jour
ncy, when he heard sound that sent the
cold shiyers coursing over his body and
almost froze thc blood in his veins. The
wolves heard his 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 Uncle Tom Bar
ry himself. Peter was q famous runner
and had come off victor in many a trial of
speed when he 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 ard up the ascent beyond fed Pc
ter, while hardly 100 yards behind camo
snarling pack, hungry ard fierce. Tho life
of an unarmed man would not be worth a
minutes purchase could they once sur
round him.
Down another long slope, across broad
sheet of ice Mt its foot and Lcthcrbce's Hill.
with its long, steep ascent, lay before him.
He shuddcrod as he glanced up its rugged
side, for he felt that his strength would
hardly suffice to carry him to the top.
Still he kcp- 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 the brow of the hill, for
there the ground became more open, AHA
his own cahi Was but o few yards beyond.
He felt sure that his pursuors would rot
follow him beyond the summit but could
he reach it before they would close upon
him?
No, not by his own cxertions, for jnstas
the thought passed through his mind his
foot caught under a gHarlcd root that cZ-
tended across the way, and he fell heavily
forward, his head struck the frozen ground,
and he lay senselcss.
When Peter recovered consciousness, he
found himself hanging over the broad
shoulders of his brother John and about to
enter his own door Here nc soon collected
his scattered senses and was able to listen
intelligently to his brothers account of
his rescue.
Uncle Tom Barry, in his flight, had
stopped at the cabin long enough to shout
through tho window that the wolves were
out and hurried on. John, who lived with
his brother knowing that Peter must
come the same path, took his gun and
walked out to the edge of the forest, where
he halted to listen But short time
elapsed before he heard the sound of the
pursued and pursuers, and rushing down
the Hill he 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 bullet into the crea-
lures brain, and then, while the pack were
fighting over the dead body of their com
rade, he slung Peter over his back and
gained the open ground in safety.
Peter frankly told the whole truth about
the affair from beginning to end and con-
cluded the story with the emphatic aSspr-