Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-08-03

runners. The distance is 80 miles
the driver used to make the trip down
one day and back the next.
But the usual driver could not go
with Mrs. Benson and her two chill
dren, for he came in on Friday night
very late with both his hands frozen.
So it was necessary to find man to
take his place.
Bunglewits heard of this, and being
out Of work just then he applied for
the position, and as he knew the road
well from freighting over it, he was
taken on trial. When the cumbrous-
looking sleigh pulled up at Mrs. Ben
sons door next morning she was sur
prised and pleased to find in the new
driver her young friend, Henry Smith.
Bunglewits brought out her one big
trunk, handling it with as much ease
as if it had been empty; next he put
his passengers in the bottom of the
wagon-bed, so that the high sides
would protect them from the wind
then he drove down to the postoitice
and tool, in the mail sacks. Giving
no attention to the jeers and chatting
of the Ioafers about the postotiice door,
he cracked his whip and away they
went, squeaking over the frosty snow.
They made the first Is miles to the
relay stable in due time, and soon af-
terward they were clear Of the woods
and out upon the rolling plain which
extends all the way down to San Ra-
fael. The horses were on a brisk trot
when Mrs. Benson saw her driver sud-
denly sit up straight and turn to look
back.
"What is it, Henry?" she asked.
q thought I heard wolves, ma'am,
was the quiet reply.
The next moment Mrs. Benson saw
him stoop quickly and take up the
whip. as it 2' cried she.
"Yes, ma'am. Get up, horses !"
Freeing herself from her wraps and
steadying herself by holding to the
drivers seat, the little woman stood
up to look back. Halfway between
one of the distant pine-clad slopes and
the road Mrs. Benson saw a dark
patch moving toward them over the
snow, and then the familiar howl of
the timber wolf came family to her
ears.
But this was not all, for, like an
echo, came an answering howl. Look
ing in this new direction, they saw a
second dark patch off to the right and
considerably in advance ofthem, com
ing swiftly toward the road.
Henry lashed the horses into a gal
lop. Then he asked Mrs. Benson to
kneel down and hold the reins for
minute. Then he unshipped the seat
and threw it out. Next he gathered
up the mail sacks and sent them after
the seat. Finally he lifted the heavy
trunk and pitched it over the tail
board. As the load lessened the
horses galloped faster.
When near the point at which the
course of the wolves would cut the
road, Henry saw that his team would
get by safely unless the foremost wolf,
which was a good deal ahead Of the
pack, should reach the spot first. The
horses seemed to understand they
put forth all their speed, and by the
barest margin they passed the point
before the enemy got there. But the
wolf was in time to spring open
mouthed at Henry, right over the
and the front of the sleigh. whihletree
It might have gone hard with Bun
glewits and with his passengers but
for his strength Of arm. With his
gloved fist he struck the flying wolf
a tremendous blow, knocking it back
ward over tbs sleigh front and into
the road, so that the runners caught
it, bumped over it and seemed to
break some Of It's bones. Upit scram-
bled, yelling and limping. The next
minute the pack was down in the
road, tearing their hurt leader to
pieces.
This gave the sleigh good start
it also gave the other wolfpack time
to come up with the foremost. Henry,
looking back, saw that they had
Joined forces and were all coming on
again, strung out in two long files in
the ruts Of the road.
Knowing that his horses must soon
be exhausted by the great pace, Bun
glewits checked them a little and
then for long time stood watching
over his shoulder the tireless, relent-
less gallOp of the wolves. They gained
decidedly on long upward slope, but
in the downward race on the other