The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-10
A SUCCESSFUL DEVICE


Of November found us at small Rus
tian village at which the railroad ter
minated. The distance to another rail-
road leading TO st. Petersburg was
about three leagues. and there was no
way of getting over IL except by means
rf a Russian tarantass. I hired the
conveyance from the landlord of the
Inn ut which we got meal, paying the
exorbitant price of 10 rubles. We were
to have a driver who was to take the
tarantass back to the starting point.
We had not been long on the road
when noticed that the driver was
looking about him timidly. pricking up
his ears and now and again turning
backward. He and ! both spoke a lit
tie German. and in this language !
learned that it would soon be time for
the wolves to be out I'm force. and he
was dreading them.
THE landlord didn't mention wolves"
said.
Certainly not. Ii would have inter
fered with his furnishing you the tar
antass'
Horrified at even a remote chance of
sncountering the hungry beasts. I was
lmeditating turning back when there
came a distant howl. The driver no
sooner heard 1t than he gave the horse
n cut which. with the fright that had
come upon the animal at a sound he
knew only too well. made him spring
forward at n mad gallop.
why did you risk our lives. knowing
of this dangerT' l asked.
THE wolves rarely come in this re-
gion before the middle Of December.
This year there has been more snow
than usual TO the north of us. and II
has driven them down here for food"
| There was another howl. this time
much nearer. My eyes met those of
lmy wife. and both hers and mine said
plainly. This means death" We then
glanced at our children. unconscious
OF the terrible danger. smuggling to-
gether between us under the robes,
and our distress was tenfold.
In passing through the more unset.
tied parts of Europe l carried In my
hip pocket medium sized revolver.
This was the only weapon at hand.
ltook II out and examined the six car.
ltridges q lad no morel TO make sure
lthey were In order. | knew that every
lwolf killed would delay the pack tc
ldevour the carcass. and II could Kill
lsix wolves at intervals there was hopt
THAT we might get through to the rail
lroad station in safety. told the driver
of my purpose. inquiring how far W.
had yet to go. and he replied that i
Twas two leagues. He then began t.
lash the horse increasingly. shoutin;
to him like n madman.
1t was but few minutes now be
fore the wolves left the wood. and on,
with lightning leaps. | told my wifi
to get down into the bottom of tn
tarantass with the children and cove
herself and them with the robes.
watched the beasts snarling and BIZ
ling at one another, and when the lead
er came within shot l aimed CAREFUL
between his cleaning eyes and firet
and he fell. In an instant. as | expec
ed. he was being torn to pieces by th
rest of the pack. BY this means ! su'
ceeded in gaining half league befor
they came upon us again. My nea
shot was delivered just as the taraI
, | tass bounded in the air over a rut an
was not effective. l fired again an
dropped another wolf. with the sam
result as before in delaying the pacl
When we were about a league frol
the station. I fired my fourth ball. b,
as 1t was getting dark my aim wa
bad, and l missed. | fired again an
missed. I had but one shot left. Wal
ling till the foremost beast was with
"a few PAGES of me, knowing that the
Twas but one shot left, I fired al
dropped the wolf.
Why this carcass so slightly delay'
the pack I do not know. At any rat
we had gained but a quarter of
league when they were on us again.
81 have no more cartridgesr' l cri'
to the driver. Make him do all y
can"
Give me n knife. quick" he cried.
I took out my pocketknife and. ope
J ing the sharpest blade. handed IT
him. not knowing what he Intended
do. He leaned over. and nome
!, later / saw the horse leave the tara
tass and. relieved from the load. she
on like rocket. The man had cut l
traces Horror stricken at his a
knowing that the wolves would be
us at once. I crouched down under
robes. | could feel the tarantass 81
\ ing on till. striking some object. 1t 81
\ denly stopped. Meanwhile ! heard
y pack go yelping past us. Then hea
a frightful shrek from the hor
Throwing Off the cover. looked abe
and saw the wolves clinging to
poor beast.
10 Come" said the driver. They v
:. coon turn on us"
He pointed to house so far aw
that | knew IL would he impossible
reach II I'm time. ! was turning hit
and thither TO find some other straw
= cling to when I heard shots ahead.
there was n large Russian wag
drawn by three horses. from which
eral men were firing at the wolN
which were galloping away toward
cover of n clump of trees.
That was the end of the adventI
Without word my wife and iuml
into each others arms. then embra
the children. At the house ! have IN
toned we got conveyance TO the I
ton, and sent the driver back to
master with the message that. Will
was sorry foi his horse. would
ioice Mt his losing all the property
lossessed. MARTIN Il. OLCOT,
Public Sale