The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-11-05
A. RACE FOR LIFE

says, l heard slight soupl as #
"yak, yak" l stopped and dismount
Ell IN order to listen. After awhile I
heard it again plainly. I concluded
that 1t must be dog barking In some
farnyard near.
Mounting again. I rode on at a r.
doubled rate. The only thing tina,
perplexed me was that the sound came
from behind, but this l attributed to
some curious echo.
Soon the sound grew louder. and 1t
Was plain that whatever 1t vas it
came from more threats than one. II
was like. q bark. yet It was not
bark OF dog.
In a moment tho hideous truth bu
in upon me. The sound was from
hind. They were following me. T.
were drawing up on me. They wer'
not dogs. They we're voices.
For moment felt ~ II there VIZ.
10 power In my limbs. Only by
strong effort managed tn work -
bicycle ut all Even in those few sec
onds Of terror the brutes had neasur
ably approached.
Rexaiuinx courage, I raced for my
life. l certainly forged ahead little.
but l could not keep the speed. Close
and closer undoubtedly they were COIL
ing. And now - the brutes were
gaining on me they ceased to yeip.
But this Was even less endurable.
To think Of death-and . death so hor
T1ble-coming thus, silent and newt
able In the darkness Of the night. IL
the midst Of the Russian pine resi-.
could now hear the scurryinL pat
tering sound they made ~ they sped
over the ground. Sometimes a solitary
yelp would break the stiffness, ard once
or twice, as II preconcerted. the who.e
pack burst into fearful chorus.
The moon was DOW up, and could
sse, M looked back. the pack 100
yards behind. all but one lean. famish
I'd brute. who, With red tongue lollins
out, was, saw to my horror. within
TIN yards Of MI.
lust then tbs noise Of . torrent burst
on my ears. A wide. open space In the
center Of the forest lay before me.
Running through the center Of 1t shone
in the moonlight the foaming waters Of
. mountain stream.
1t lay down in a low but steep ra-
vine. its rocky bank riains straight to
the height Of ten feet or thereabout
On the opposite bank could see the
white road sull continuing. Farther
ON a light beansd out
I shouted loud. but u only seemed to
sst the wolves behind me yelping morn
Asrceiy than ever.
But, looking ahead, perceived that
the bridge no longer existed 1t had
probably been swept away BY some
food In the river.
Deapejrlusly ] hooked ct the light
that lay only . few hundred yards
away from - that tight that p omised
shelter and human nmpanionship to
me could only reach It shouted
and shoutad again and again.
wac now within ten yarn a. the
river. was heaitating whethe to end
my life at once BY riding over til preci-
pace and into tho torrent q to dismount
and die sta uding at bag.
Just - l was abo1t to adopt the lat.
ter course perceived that the bridge
WAS not entirely gone. One solitary
pine trunk sp0nned the torrent from
elf to cli6. ......
In a moment I had decided On my
course. grnsped the handles tightly
and put on the highest speed l could,
for knew that the faster the pace the
moro accurately l could steer.
murmured . prayer. I was on the
beam. Fortunately II was somewhat
psaned at the top.
Steadily l kept my eyes on the mar
1sw track. every little unevenness.
every knot In the timber had to steer
clear Of. The slightest Jolt would have
cast me into the swtrling waters BE-
AsNth.
! may say With truth that the tex
turs And outline Of every inch OF that
beam are imprinted on ~ memory to
THE AAy.
So intent was l on II that FOR the
time gave not 4 thought to the
wolves that had forced on me 20 has-
ardsvs . ride. But twice a thrill Of
terror rAn through me ~ the trunk
tilted over to one side and threatened
70 pitch me Asw1.
Yet II must BE- remembered that al
thts took place in. at the most. three
SECONDS.
Now WAS not . foot from the ether
hank when the beam gave a thlH1
TIT over. ! leaned asaiS to the Other
ode. This time In vain
BeSoes we'll knew 1t was falling
Bot I made a Wild spring toward rhs
bank Fortune favored me. lanced
on my face In q cluster OF bambls
bushes.
< seized hold Of them, and. though
nv legs hung over the precipice. l
puljed myself up Below me I heard
. splash. caused BY ~ machine as
Il fell.
4 mousnt after that was q louder