Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-11
his way of saying that he got dandy

his way OF saying tnat ne got 0anoy
supper.
People are always accusing ives
terners of splicing their language with
slang. Unless I am mistaken. the
above is my first fall from grace in
that particular--while telling this sto-
ry. l hone you may follow the bright
example of Rip Van Wrinkle and no,
count this time.
The moon rose at seven o'clock.
when we started back to town with
the girls smothered in robes and blank
cts. and our rifles tucked away in the
bottom of the sleigh. 1t was Necessary
to 60 armed as there was just possi-
bility of seeing wolves. as they had be-
come rather daring lately. 1t was not
probable that they would make their
appearance however.
The Butterfly. as she few befoer the
breeze with every stitch Of canvas set.
was beauty certainly. and enough To
make even a land-lubber's heart swell
with pride.
We had not been out more than ten
minutes before we heard long-drawp,
dismal howl away to our right. Jack
and exchanged glances. Again came
that wailing sound, but this time from
the opposite direction. The wolves
were evidently signaling to each other.
Helen leaned forward and asked me if
my rife was loaded. l answered in
the affirmative and all were silent for
a time, listening to the bowling of the
wolves which seemed to be drawing
steadily nearer. We had never tested
the speed of the sleigh. but knew it
could easily outstrip a horse. The
fact that a wolf also travels faster than
a horse did not bother US much, for
we felt sure they could not overtake US
unless something unlocked for hap
pened. The only advantage the brutes
had was that they were ahead of us,
but that only added the requisite spice
of danger to the trip. The mOurnful
howls grew steadily nearer and just as
we appeared to be about opposite them.
the mizzen-mast fell with crash bury
ing Jack under the folds of canvas. I
must admit l was badly frightened.
The Butterfy's speed lessened consid-
erably and as the wind was now blow
ing in gusts. feared for the safety of
the main mast-if that went, well, we
would sell our lives dearly. The deck
was soon cleared and Jack, pale as the
snow about us. took charge of our on
ly remaining sail, while handled the
steering apparatus. We were still
travelling at a good rate Of speed but
the wolves were drawing nearer and
nearer. When we were little more
than half through our journey. the
wolves seemed SO near that l took up
my rifle, gave it to Helen, who was as
gooo shot as l. and told her not to
fire till gave the word. We soon saw
moving shadows in the distance. The
wind had now become a steady gale.
Jack left his sail, and took up his gun.
also. Slowly the wolves gained on US,
but at last we saw the lights OF the
town in the distance. The wolves saw
them. too. apparently. and seemed to
redouble their efforts as they saw the
OF our escape. We could
see their eyes gleam and hear their
laboured breathing before we thought
it best to fire. told Helen to aim at
The nearest. the eastern girl covered
her ears. l gave the word and an in
slant later there was loud report, a
flash and two of our pursuers rolled on
The snow.
The air resounded with the snaps
Ind snarls of the pack as they fought
,ver their late comrades. We gained
lalf a mile before they took up the
'hase again and when we were within
| mile of town, the performance was
epeated. Again came the crack of
he rifles, again the pack stopped to
,erform the wolfly burial rites over
heir companions, and when they were
eady to take up the chase again, we
lad entered the town.
Our eastern friend had seen more of
anch life than she had wished and
hat was our last moonlight ride in the
'utterfy, until we had made some
,arked improvements in her rigging.