The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14

/ Sandoff in st. Petersburg, and the cur
tain rises again on gloomy and win
try scene, far from the imperial city.
Night had fallen some hours before
/ a starless cloudy night, bitterly cold.
A heavy siedge, drawn by three sturdy
horses, was Swimming over a lonely
road at the base of the Trials. An
angry, cutting wind whistled through
] the dark forest on either side. Snow
/ lay deep on the ground, and was fall
/ ing steadily in fine flakes. Three men
were huddled together on the seat of
this sledge. Quin was one OF them, and
his companions were Russians, named
Serge and Ivan. The body of the
vehicle was occupied by stout wood
en- cage, in which a monstrous brown
bear moved restlessly, giving vent now
and then to an angry roar.
The bear, caught in trap among
the mountains on the previous day,
had been transferred that afternoon to
the cage. Now it was on its way to
Quin's camp, where food and warmth
awaited the hungry men. But the
journey seemed already to have eX-
ceeded the proper distance, and as yet
there was no welcome glinmer of the
camp fires. Quin began to feel misgiv-
ings and doubt.
Are you sure we are going in the
right direction?' he finally asked.
Since your honor wishes to know, I
will speak the TRUTH Ivan replied,
bluntly. ITS a hundred rubles to a
glass of vodka that We have gone
astray."
Yes. We are lost" added Serge.
''This binding snowstorm is to blame.
Truly, it is a great misfortune"
"Lostr' echoed Quin. And you
don't know where the camp lies?"
The two Russians shook. their heads
hopelessly.
1T will be the best plan," said Ivan,
''to turn around and drive back as we
came
He had barely spoken when mourn
full howl was heard at some distance
in the rear. A second followed quickly,
and then third.
Listen cried Quin. "They are
wolvesr'
Heaven preserve usr' muttered
Serge.
The bowling increased, rising dis
tinctly above the jangle of the bells
and the angry voice of the Gagged bear.
Wolf called to wolf from the depths of
the forest, until a yelping chorus rang
on the frosty air. Quin realized that
the situation was serious.
at is early in the season for the
wolves to turn out and hunt he ex-
claimed, but the bitter weather must
have famished them. They are col
lecting in a pack, and they will soon
be in hot pursuit of US. They are all
behind, so we dare not turn back. For
ward, 1vani Drive like the wind It
will go hard with US unless we beat
the ravenOus brutes or find shelter
Ivan needed no urging. He piled the
whip, and as the lash played on the
backs of the horses they broke into a
swift gallop- The sledge, swaying from |
side to side, ploUghed through the |
drifting snow and bounded over rough !
places in the road. Quin and Serge |
were armed with siX-chanlbered re- j
VolverS. They made sure that the !
weapons were loaded, and each stuffed |
a convenient pocket with CARTRIDGES.
In a few minutes, when more than a
mile had been covered, it became evil /
dent that firearms must soon be
brought into use. The clamor of the !
wolves had increased; their bowls were (
deafening. Flaming eyes were seen in
the thiclets by the edge of the road,
and presently dark forms darted out
Then the number rapidly swelled. until
the whole pack bounded into the open
Two score of the savage brutes, en-
by hunger and rage, came
eaping over the snow, in desperate
chase of the fugitives.
On and on through the wintry night
Above the tumult the bells jingled mer-
lily and mocl1ingly The bear, either
alarmed or enraged by the approach of
he scavengers of the forest, growled
and snarled, while it made desperate
attempts TO break out of its cage. The
;norting and terrified horses galloped
rs madly as ever, the whip cracked IN
and Ivan uttered shout af-
err shout But the savage pack gained
steadily from behind, and in front was
10 prospect for shelter. only the desc
ate road fading into the snowy mist,
md the dark forest right and left
BE readyp' Quin cried to Serge 1--WE
must try to check the brutes,'
The two men swung around on the
eat, with their backs to Ivan, who
lad all he could do to manage the
horses. They watched and waited, re-
'olvers in hand. The foremost of the