Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-08-30
THOs. ). ADAMS PROPRIETOR.
%IRUNGLEWITSg i =
By S1oFoRD HAMp.


: -.
one of the distant pine-clad slopes and
the road Mrs. Benson saw 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
second dark patch off to the right and
considerably in advance of them, COM,
ing swiftly toward the road.
Henry lashed the horses into gal.
lop. Then he asked Mrs, Benson to
kneel down and hold the reins for q
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 safely unless the foremost wolf,
which was a good deal ahead of the
pack, should reach the pot.frsts 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
whifletree and the front of the sleigh,
i Itmight 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 tremen-.
deus blow, knocking it backward over
the sleigh front and into the road, so
that the runners caught it, bumped
over it and seemed to break some of
its bones. Up it scrambled, 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 wolf pack time to
come up with the foremost. Henry,
looking back, saw thatthey had joined
forces and were all coming on again,
strung out in two long files in the
ruts ofthe road.
Knowing that his horses must soon
he exhausted by the great pace, Bungle-
wits checked them little and then for
long time stood watching over his
shoulder the tireless, relentless gallop
of the wolves. They gained decidedly
on long upward slope, but in the
downward race on the other side the
horses gained as much in their tuvn.
fAtHthe next hill, however, the. team
plainly showed distress, came down to
trot, and so continued until the
near approach of the pack sent them
flying again in terror.
The town was still five miles away,
and escape ffsomthe wolves seemed
impossible. The horses might hold
their own on the slope they were then
descending, which continued TO the
bridge over the washout, but after
that there would be rather steep hill
of mile or more to climb. Bungle-
wits, quietly reckoning up the chances,
decided that the wolves would, catch
them on the hill. He therefore
looked down at Mrs. Benson, who was
crouching. in the bottom of the wagon
bed, holding her two terrified children
IA her arms, and said, with matter.
of-course air.
eff you please, ma'au,, we'll stop at
the bridge, and I'll stand 'em. of. F." "
Scan you o,it, Henry?" ,-tE
! eyes, ma'am." a.
"Sure?"
Henry paused for an instant to
think and then replied, t"Yes, ma'am,
Pm sure. % ~
every we'll. Henry. If you tell me
you're sure, I believe YOU are sure.
Just let me know what I'm to do, end
I'll do it. ;"
50. a.'Ibsis good. said the young Ger
man.
Once more he piled the whip and
with such good effect that the wolves
were 200 yards behind when he pulled
up the painting, trembling horses on
the bridge.
~, ":Get out!n'' he .cried.sr Suiting the,
action to the -word,~rhe sprang out
himself, unlocked the horses and
with smack sentStllem by-them-,
selves. Next he tilted althe sleigh on
edge and swung -it.round so, that it
stood lengthwise across the; narrow
bridge, which it completely blocked.
Glancing up the hill, he saw that the
wolves had halted N some doubt and
spread out widely. The energy and
clatter and formidable look $of his
movements in throwing the sleigh
about had daunted them fora mo-.
ment. t..-->..,.-s...-s ..s->..>e.s-----.-'-- 49,
!, Seeing that he still had timeito
spare, he spread the blankets on the
I,ridoe and called To Mrs. Ranson 10