The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-17
CHASED BY WOLVES.
Thrilling Experience w,th the Feroeious
Animals Near Hawks Landing.

Hawks Landing, on the Minnesota side
of the Mississippi river Just below the
foot Of the lake, whittier had gone
with an uncle. He found that his busl-
ness would detain him longer than he
expected and he decided to send me
back alone on the stage 1t should
have left the landing at | o'clock, but
II was delayed somewhere down the
river and did not arrive till nearly 3.
City. The driver was q rough and
dissipated man, but he had the reputa-
ton of always keeping sober till after
the days trip had been completed. But
the delay may have upset him, and l
think he began drinking before we
started, although no one then noticed
it. He certainly had provided himself
with large bottle of liquor, as | soon
had occasion TO know. l suppose |
could not have been more than IL or 10
years old, although life in new coun-
try and on farm had given me ability
to take care of myself beyond my
years.
We were not yet half way when
the sun was only a little above the
Minnesota bluffs, with big orange sun
dogs standing up each side of it. Just
as it disappeared below the bluffs the
driver slid out of his seat into drunk
en- sleep in the bottom of the sleigh.
/ climbed over into the front seat and
took the reins myself.
you seem to know how to drive;
/ do you think we can get there to-
night?" asked the other passenger.
81 can drive four horses" l answer
ed very proudly. 1--WE can get through,
l guess, if it doesn't storm SO that we
can't follow the trees"
| had for some time been looking
anxiously for the lights of the town,
although there was no hope of seeing
4 them yet, when my attention was at
j tracted by dark object on the snow
far to the right toward the Wisconsin
shore.
The man saw it and said: Whats
coming over there-some other
teams?"
They wouldn't be going SO fast"
answered, picking up the whip from
the bottom of the sleigh The shadow
was now directly to the right.
Its some sort Of an ANIMAL" went
on the man. He paused for moment
and added: They look like big dogs.
At that moment there came the cry
had so often heard at home, only much
deeper, harsher and louder.
They're wolves!" l said, and
cracked the whip at the horses, al
though that was hardly necessary, as
they heard the savage howl as we'll as
we did and knew it meant danger.
The second time looked back | saw
that the pack was much nearer. could
make out the leaders and see that there
must be 20 or 80 of the animals, al
told. My fellow passenger was cling
ing to the seat and crying to me tC
drive faster, although the horses were
fairly running away and | had practi
cally no control over them one way OF
the other.
Sdl l. yOu luiOW Jul IiC u uhh dut
back seat?" l shouted to him.
| heard the man throwing out Thu
small sacks and the buffalo robes. TIL,
robes seemed to delay the wolves
longer than anything else. The!
stopped and tore them to shreds. W.
got quarter of mile start. All thi
time the drunken driver was sleeping
like log in the bottom of the sleigh
The horses were becoming exhaust
ed, and could feel that they were go
ing slower Right ahead l could see
high ridge in the ice where it hat
cracked and showed up. A notch hal
been cut in it just wide enough for
sleigh to pass through. | held tn
reigns steady and tried to slow up
little, in the hope of steering safel.
through the narrow crack. As W
, came up to it saw dark streak be
tween the rough cones at either side
the crack had opened two or tire
feet during the day and new ice ha
formed. We struck the opening in tn
ridge squarely; the nigh horse reare
> up and jumped over the new ice, bu
the other stepped on it and brok
through with one forward leg. H
!, fell, but the other horse dragged hir
. and the sleigh beyond the cracl
: where we stopped all in heap.
> l jumped over the dashboard an
fell In the snow beside the horse. H
was struggling to rise, but l guesse
: what had happened and threw my bod
across his neck and felt of his leg.
was crushed and broken. l got out m
= knife, cut the breast strap which he'll
: the neck yoke and called to the ma
!, to unlock the traces, which he mar
= aged to do at last.
The wounded horse was again strul
= Cling to rise, and had sprawled hin
= self out of the way. 1 shouted at tn
!, other horse; he started with boun,
and the man and l threw oul
selves into the sleigh, half knockin
: out our brains as our heads struck tt
gether. We looked back and saw til
- whole hungry pack fall upon the abaI
doned horse and bear him down Jul
as the poor animal had succeeded
getting upon his three sound legs.
The horse that was still attached /
the sleigh plunged on bravely for son
distance, with the sleigh-tongue a
most ploughing in the snow, but l
soon tired out and dragged himse
along in startled sort of way. But
made no difference, as the wolv
d never pursued us again.
We got out and walked beside Il
i. sleigh to keep warm, and, as the craC
" was only two miles from town. it W;
" not long before we reached our destin
ton.
e, Head of Her Glass.