San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-14
CHAPTER XIX.
DISPUTE WITH WOLVES

| CHAPTER AlA.
A DISPUTE WITH WOLVES.
Platoff's cutlery gave the boys Sc
we're fright. When they turned around,
the Russian was striding toward dark
object few yards away.
1T was foolish thing to shout SO
loudly" he said. 81 forgot the echo.
1t was done before l had time to think.
But see, have made fortunate dis
covery."
Hurrying to the spot, the boys were
surprised to find half dozen wheelbar-
rows deeply imbedded in the snow.
"a year ago or more mining opera
tions were begun beyond this ridge"
said Platoff, $50 one of the convicts in
formed me. These wheelbarrows were
either forgotten or purposely abandon
ed, and now they will do us good
turn.
SIN what way?" asked Maurice.
For answer Platoff pointed to the
long slope of frozen snow.
"Time is precious" he said, "and to
make our way down that slippery in
cline would be difficult task. By tax
ing these wheelbarrows apart we can
go to the bottom of the valley in two or
three minutes. The risk will be slight,
for no trees or rocks can be SEEM"
With some difficulty the clumsy bar
rows were torn loose from the frozen
snow, and the shallow wooden beds de-
tached from the wheels
Platoff chose a good position on the
brow of the hill and fixed himself as
comfortably as possible in the strange
sled.
"Don't start until I am 100 yards
down." he said to the boys. eff there
is danger ahead, will shout, and you
can alter your course" He pushed him
self gently off and went Swimming
down the hill at prodigious speed.
"Now, there, off we gol" said Mau-
rice. "Hold tight, Phil, and don't be
scared" He slipped over the crest and
plunged downward. For moment the
clumsy box grated over the icy crust;
then it went off with rush that took
Maurice's breath away, and his remem-
brance of what followed was always of
the dimmest nature. Frightened by the
terrific speed and the singing force of
the wind, he chung to the sides with all
his might Kissing like buzzsaw,
the sled whizzed down the first couple
of slopes; then with succession of
heavy bumps it shot over ridge and
entered upon longer and sleeper in
cline.
With rush like a skyrocket it COW
cred this half mile stretch and then
leaped into the air. Maurice cried aloud
as he felt himself falling and clutched
the sled all the tighter. A crash--a
crack-a binding shower of snow-and
then he knew that the ride had ended.
Overhead he saw the stars shining,
and struggling through the masses of
light, powdery snow that enveloped
him he gained the edge of the crust and
climbed into the open air none the
worse for his adventure save a slight
sensation of dizziness. A dark figure
was visible some distance away, and an
instant later he was clasping hands
with Platoff.
"Phil-where is Phil?" he demanded
anxiously.
Platoff made no reply, and together
they ran over the crust. A black hole
yawned before them, and leaning over
the brink Platoff inserted his arm and
helped out the missing boy. Phil open
ed his eyes and then his mouth. well,
that beats all the toboggan slides ever l
saw" he said, looking up at the hills
behind him with such a comical ex-
preston that his companions laughed.
"Thank heaven we are safev' said
Platoff. 'That was a perilous trip. T"
And he pointed to the sharp cliff 90 feet
above them over which the sleds had
plunged.
"'All's well that ends well, ;" re-
piled Maurice. 81 wonder if we lost
anything ON the way" Nothing was
missing, however, and, after brief
rest, all were ready for the start. A sue
cession of slight hills and ravlnes now
separated the party from the river.
Somewhere below us lies the post
road" said Platoff. at will not be
; safe to approach any nearer. We must
: keep back along the edge of the valley.
> Our ride down hill has given us a big
: start We can gain a safe hiding place
: before daylight"
r The journey was resumed in single
file, Platoff assuming the lead, and fol-
/ hours they travelled over slippery ridges
: and through dark, thickly wooded hol
lows. The cold was intense, but they
D moved at too rapid pace to suffer from
| it. At the first appearance of dawn
Q Platoff cast his eyes about for a hiding
0 place, and finally chose a deep, secluded
/ valley with a forest of spruce and fl
$ ON all sides. They slept at interval,
+ during the day, and in spite of the risl
g fire was kent M and fed with branch