The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26

that the pack was much nearer; could
make out the leaders and see that there
must be twenty or thirty % The animals.
all told. My felow-passenger was rllugns
TO the seat crying to me to drive faster,
although the horses were fairly running
away and l had practically no control
over them one way or the other
Cant you throw out the trunk and
back seat?" shouted to him.
l will give him credit for doing very well
at this. He cambered over the bacl. ana
pitched out the other seat and a small
trunk which stood behind il. II was a
good thing to do. as il lightened the sleigh
and delayed the wolves slightly. They oil
stopped and surged around the things for
a moment. then they came on.
heard the man throwing out TIE mail
sacks and some other parcels. buE The
wolves did not pause much for these. They
were soon closer than ever, and, the man
said afterward. within a few rods Of us.
I kicked the buffalo robe, which was stu
over my lap, out at one side, and sank
down on my knees in the bottom Of the
sleigh: the man wrenched loose the scat
and dropped il out with two other rUhes.
These were the last things which we had
to throw out The robes seemed 20 delay
the wolves longer than anything ei.e.
They stopped and tore them into shreds.
time the drunken driver was sleeping like
a log in the bottom OF the sic'gh.
The horses were becoming exhausted.
and i could feel that they were going
slower now urged them on with whip
and voice. but it seemd to maize 10 lif-
ference. The bowling behind US began TO
come palmer; the wolves had left the robes
and were again gaining on us. Right
ahead | could see a high ridge in the ice
xtyIa IL yal nd CHI A
notch had been cut IN il just wide enough
for a sleigh TO pass through. ! held the
reins steady and tried to slow up little
in the hope of steering safely through tho
narrow crack AS we came IN to IL l
saw a dark streak between 'he rough
cones at either side; the crack had opened
two or three feet during the day al new
Ice had formed. We struck tho opcring 10
the ridge squarely; the nigh horse reared
up and jumped over the new ice, but the
other stepped on IL and broke through
with one forward leg. He fell, but the
other horse dragged him and the sleigh be-
yond The crack, where we stopped all in
a heap.
l jumped over the dashboard and fell in
the snow beside the horse. He was strug-
Cling to rise, but l guessed what had
happened. and threw my body across his
neck and felt Of his leg. Ii was crushed
ana DTOkeH- L got out my hnllSs cut the
breaststrap which held the neckyoke, and
called to the man to unlock the traces,
which he managed to do at last. / cut
the injured horses rein and ran around
behind the other, who stood trembling
and snorting. With the strap tied back
the end of the whfetree to the sleigh>
runner.
The wounded horse was again struggling
to rise and had sprawled himself out of
the way. / shouted at the other horse
he started with bound and the man and
/ threw ourselves into the sleigh, half
knocking out our brains as our heads
struck together. We looked back and
saw the whole hungry pack fall upon the
abandoned horse and bear him down just
as the poor animal had succeeded in get
ting upon his three sound legs.
The horse that was still attached to the
sleigh plunged on bravely for some dis
lance, with the sleigh tongue almost
blowing IN the snow, but he soon tired
out and dragged himself along in a start.
led sort of way. But il made no differ
ence, as the wolves never pursued us
again.
We got out and walked beside the sleigh
to keep warm. and, as the crack was only
Two miles from town, II was not long be.
fore we reached our destination. A party
of men went back to get shot at the
wolves, but, their hunger satisfied on the
fallen horse, they made off before the
hunters could reach them. The next morn
ing the passenger took the down stage
| back to civilization, vowing that he haC
had enough of the Northwest. The drunk.
en- driver was promptly discharged by the
| stage company.