The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-05-06
BICYCLE RIDE FOR LIFE.

intended to break the record, as the
slang phrase goes-no very difficult
matter, reflected, so far as Canadian
winter record on the bicycle was con-
cerned. To do so, however, required
Judgment. knew had the long rise
into the forest before me and must
reserve my strength for that. l went
steadily on.
! had crossed the level at last, and
I knew had done well. The light was
bright enough to see the time, but l
decided to wait till entered the forest.
II was no longer quite so easy to keep
the bicycle up to speed. There was
more effort in the pressure on the
pedals, a little more sensation in the
muscles of the legs as did SO. Hooked
round. Yes, had already made rise
of a good many feet. The slope was
regular, but not steep enough to great
ly reduce my speed. AS went l
glanced from side to side = for
l was conscious of the oppressive SOL
itude of the forest; but my pace was
not retarded for moment. One of
the sleighing party had been talking
of wolves. The winter, it seemed, had
been an early one, and it certainly had
been severe. The wolves, he had said,
had been showing in packs not 20 miles
to the north. There was not sound
but the low crisp crunch of the snow
under the wheels of my machine, and
even that seemed hushed and distant.
Yet what was that? Was it fancy, or
did 1 hear something shrill, piercing,
yet faint, in the far distance on my
right hand? Surely there was some
thing-if it was only the wall of dis
tant gust of wind moaning through The
frozen pines! l bent over the bicycle
and concentrated my energies upon fac
ing the long ascent. There it was
again! 1t was no wall of the northern
wind-no swaying of the frozen forest.
1t was the cry of living thing. 1t.
was natures savage complaint against
the pangs of hunger!
On and on we flew. There was not a
breath of wind to stir the lightest snow
flake on the tenderest spray, yet my
hair was blown back from my brow,
where great drops of perspiration now
gathered and began to tricl<le down my
face. On and on! without thought
but that of pressing forward, without
hope but that of reaching the descent
of the slope, and the edge of the forest.
And as l went 1 knew that was fol-
lowed. From the dim arcades on my
right came from time to time a short
gasping howl, cut short in the moment
of utterance by the exertions of the
chase. They had seen me, and now
they were in full cry. 1t was race for
bare life. I leant forward, and threw
every energy I possessed into the one eff
fort to press on. The trees fitted past
me like ghosts. The long hanging
boughs nearly brushed my face as l
swept past. The cold air blew in my
face and carried even the heavy fur of
my coat behind me as I rushed through
the night. And yet my pursuers did
not lose ground. On the contrary, they
were gaining. Not quickly, not with a
rush; but slowly, foot by foot, with
certainty that was deadly; with mo-
notony that was CHASTITY beyond expires.
sion. I clenched my teeth with fierce
determination. kept my eyes fixed on
the line of light that stretched on and
on in front. as if it would never end!
The strain was telling on me now.
There was wild buzzing in my head.