The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19
 A RAGE WITH WOLVES.
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darkness began to fall even now. I could hardly see the shore. If I lost sight of that I would have no guide and might skate off into the cold waters of the great lake and be drowned, miser- ably, like rat, in the night.
 There are very few faster orstronger skaters than I am although I say it. bent to work and soon had the pleasure of seeing the shore line through the rapidly falling snowf1akes not far away. But by the time I could see it the wind had completely turned about l was not half way home when this happened. My wisest course would have been to have turned back toward the Indian village, but my foolish pride prevented.
 With the wind dead against me 1t was hard work making any progress. What will not man do when 1t. is a question of life and death? I was only boy, but the spirit of a man was mine then. Keeping as near the shore as possible I pushed ahead, but often the gale. would bring me to full stop and progress was now slow. Looming up ahead of me in the half darkness was a high point partly covered with trees. The point projected into the lake nearly a mile. An old backwoodsman had a. cabin on the point and I now deter mined to pass the night there.
 "The snow had gathered little on the ice, so that I skated along in silence, not hearing the crisp cutting of the ice by the well seasoned steel. Still the gale kept the snow moving so that could skate. The trees on the point were ghostly and threatening enough in their dress of snow as I drew near enough to make them out. But what was that? I knew the sound well-the sharp yelping of wolves! They were coming toward me from the direction of the point.
 "All thought of keeping on now left me. I turned sharply about. skated boldly out from the shore at the top of my speed, and letting the wind blow full upon my back at last headed, as best I could judge, once more in the direction of the Indian village. How I then wished that I had remained in that village. as the Indians had ad- vised me! It was too late for regrets I knew that my life depended upon skating rapidly and keeping my feet Should I fall the wolves would be upon me before I could rise, and they would mercilessly tear me to pieces!
 "I could not see the wolves but knew that they would never give up, the chase as long as there was any chance to catch me. They were hungry and tireless. The only advantage. I had over them consisted ln my skates, upon which I now coasted with the speed of an iceboat, for 1 found that they were falling behind, and so held out my arms from my sides and sailed before the wind, reserving my strength for the time when I might sorely need it.
 "The rascals never despaired. They struck their gait and stayed with it. as the phrase goes. Their sharp barks and longer howls were seldom heard They knew that they had a long chase and doubtless wondered what sort of a being I was to go so much faster upon ice than they could. The darkness grew thicker I could see the shore line only at times; only where the land rose ab- ruptly into high hills. Soon all land marks were lost, and I knew that I would not be able to find the Indian village that night.
 Imagine yourself flying along that great inland sea in gathering darkness the greatest fresh water sea on earth with the knowledge that you might at any second skate over fiawy ice, break through and be drowned or have the distressing knowledge that should you come to lumpy ice you must certainly