Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-15
Pluck and O O
o O Rdventure.
RACE FOR LIFE WITH WOLVES.
T INTELLIGENCE has just been re-

Il G ulfect attention to class OF men
who spend more than half the months
of each year in the solitude of the
Canadian pine woods. Secluded in
their log shanties from early in Sep
tember, with, as rule, no connection
with the civilized world until the frost
permits teamsters to bring their horses
along the bush roads and over the
lakes, these men are glad to seize every
opportunity for a change.
When the lakes We're covered with a
clear sheeting of ice recently two
young fellows employed on the shore
of Deer Lake secured two pairs Of
skates which CHANGED to be in the
place and set out at night to visit an
other band of men about nine miles
away. With the exception of a little
portage of about half a mile between
two lakes, the whole journey was by
ice and was no very formidable under
taking to the two sturdy log makers.
AS they were hobbling over the
portage on their skates, they We're
startled by the sudden breaking across
their path of a red deer followed by
three or four wolves, who We're close
upon the heels of their prey. Being
without defensive weapons Of any
kind, they realized their danger if an
other pack of wolves should, rs is
often the case, follow after the beasts
they had seen pass, and they made all
speed to the lake before them.
Just as they were breaking through
the thin ice at the lake side. they heard
a whining behind them and then the
low howl which told them that their
track had been discovered and that
they would certainly be followed. But
by the time the wolves reached the
waterside, where they caught their
first sight Of the men they We're track
ing, the two shanty men had reached
the firm ice and were skating in ear
nest.
Fortunately for them there were a
few hundred yards of thin ice to be
crossed, which almost, but not quite
held up the wolves, and by its sharp
edges wounded and hindered them
greatly. Otherwise they would have
caught up with the men, and probably
have overpowered them before they
had gone half mile.
AS it was they had almost overtaken
them before they had covered the first
half of their four-mile race. Neither
of the men was a hunter and this was
their first experience with wolves
But by mutual agreement, they adopt
ed the very best tactics possible, and
when their pursuers came too near to
them, wheeled sharply to one side. AS
the smooth ice afforded no grip to their
claws, the wolves could not turn or
stop suddenly, but generally shot for
ward and made several stumbles, and
sometimes somersaults before getting
on to the fresh tack.
In this manner the skaters avoided
the brutes for some time, and would
probably have reached their destna-
tion but for an unfortunate suggestion
of the younger man, that they would
be more likely to tire out the wolves
If they separated. In accordance with
this plan they wheeled in different di-
rections at the end of an island they
were approaching.
AS the elder man reached the other
end Of this wooded island he saw
before him the sparks which issued
from the huge chimney of the shanty
he was searching for. Putting ON all
of his remaining strength he spurted
on to where the cooks path led from
the shanty to the water hole. There
the two big gray timber wolves which
had elected to follow him, turned tail
and with parting yelp turned in their
tracks.
BY some curious accident the poor
fellow stumbled as he was approach
ing the low door of the shanty and fell,
breaking his right leg just below the
knee. The pain and the previous ex-
ertion We're too much for his over
strained nerves, and it was upward OF
an hour before the shantymen could
recover him from the swoon into which
he fell as he was carried inside.
When consciousness returned his
first question was for his companion,
whom he had last seen as he skated
around the little island in the lake.
As soon as the men could be made to
understand the situation. Il dozen of
them started out to see what had be-
fallen the other traveller.
Within 200 hundred yards of their
winter home they found the blood,
stained spot where the unfortunate
young fellow had been attacked in
front by the two brutes which had
chased his friend. In the lightly fall
ing snow could be read the whole
story of his destruction. His boots
and skates and few fragments of
clothing were all the tangible signs of
the tragedy left by the wolves.
Happily for the injured man,
shanty missionary on his rounds
reached the island where he lay that
same night and being medical man
also was able to set his leg with some
degree of satisfaction. Strangely
enough, as it happened, the clergyman
had taken with him, as his driver for
the trip, an uncle of the man devoured
| on tho ice who yync prpot1u attached