The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-09-24
A RACE FOR LIFE

wolves. After TluiuS lOllS tiihCi h'
says, l heard Il slight sound AS OF
yak, yak" l stopped and dismount-
cd in order to listen. After awhile l
heard it again plainly. concluded
that it must be a dog barking in some
farmyard near.
Mounting again, rode on at a re-
doubled rate. The only thing that
perplcXei me was that the sound came
from behind, but this ! attributed to
some curious echo.
Soon the sound grew louder, and 1t
was plain that whatever ii vas II
came from more threats than one. 1t
was like a bark, yet it was not the
bark Of a dog,
In moment the hidcous truth burst
in upon me The sound was from be-
hind. They were following me. They
were drawing up on me, They were
not dogs. They were wolves.
For moment felt as If there were
no power in my limbs. Only by
strong effort | managed to work the
bicycle at all. Even in those few sec
onds of terror the brutes had meaSur'
ably approached.
Regalning courage, | raced for my
life | certainly forged ahead a little,
but could not keep the speed. Closer
and closer undoubtedly they were com.
hn hrflf
gaining on me they ceased 10 yelp.
But this was even less endurable.
To think Of death-and q death 50 hor-
rible- coming thus, silent and incvit-
able. in the darkness of the night, in
the midst of the Russian pine rest!
could now hear the scurryins, pat
tering sound hey made as they sped
over the ground Sometimes a solitary
yelp would break the stiffness, and once
or twice, az If preconccrtcd, tie Whole
pack burst into fearful chorus.
The moon was now up, and | could
see, as | looked back. the pack 100
yards behind, all but one lean, f0m.Sh-
ed brute, who, with red tongue loINn &
out, was, saw to my horror. with"
ten yards of me.
Just then the noise of a torrent burst
on my ears. 4 wide, open space In tie
center of the forest lay before me.
Running through the center Of ii Shone
In the moonlight the foaming waters Of
a mountain stream.
It lay down in a low but steep ra-
vine, its rocky bank rising straight to
the height Of ten feet or thcrcabOHt
On the opposite bank could see t.e
white road still continuing Farther
on light beamed out.
l shouted loud, but it only seemed to
set the wolves behind me yelpiug more
tiercely than ever
But, looking ahead, l perceived that
the bridge no longer existed 1t had
probably been swept away by some
food in the river.
DespairIngly | looked at the light
that lay only a few hui rcd YARDS
away from me, that light hut ? Jm.s
shelter and human compau )nsl.g .
me could | only reach it | shouted
anu rAphA'i oEuAI- EINs H-tN4I.
was now within ten = ,rd' OF u.s.
river | was hesitatug w.C,Ae TO C.
my hfe at once by riding over t. pref
pice and into the torrent or to dismou.t
and die standing at bay.
Just as | was about to adopt the la
Ter course | perceived that the brio
was not entirely gone. one soltl
pine trunk spanned the torrent fro D
cliff to cliff.
IN moment had de" led On nay
course. | grasped the handles ug, y
and put on the highest speed CO.. g.
for knew that the faster the pace t. p
more accurately could steer
| murmured a prayer. | was on tie
beam. Fortunately II was somewhat
planned a the top
Steadily l kept my eyes on the v,
row track, every little mc-cnu
every knot in the timber hid to 500. e
clear Of. The slightest jolt woa,l D D
cast me into the swirling waters H.
meath.
l msy say with truth that tie tex
lure anu outline OF every llCl ai u b.
beam are imprinted on my memory to
this day
SO intent was on it that for Tie
time | gave nor a thought 10 tie
wolve. that had forced on me so h.z-
ardous ride But twice thrill If
terror ran through me as the t.uu;
tilted over to one side and threatened
70 pitch me down
YET il must be remembered that al
this took place in, at the most. three
seconds
Now | was not foot from the other
bank when the beam gave t.iul
tilt over, ! leaned again to the other
side This time IN vain.
Before | well knew 1t was rW.ag.
But made e wild spring tow lie
bank Fortune favored ne. | .q 4
on my face in a cluster Of a- I'D @
bushes
seized hold Of them. and, though
my legs hung over the prec,rce. /
pulled myself up. Below me heard
a splash, caused by my machine as
" fell