Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-04-06

20 feet ahead Of his companions. He
was now close up. The attack was At
hand. The big gray leader leaDed up
level with the heads Of the bride and
groom, but did not attempt to land IN the
sleigh. It was sort Of preliminary leap
Of investigation, but the other wolves
came up close behind him and all were
ready to seize upon the couple.
take the lines and let the horses
guide themselves" shouted Carlson, as
he swung round and faced the pack.
His revolver was worthy Of the work at
hand. It was a 80 caliber WEAPON Of de-
pendable make. With this in his right
hand, and with his left resting on the
back Of the seat to steady him, Carlson
prepared to fight for the life Of his bride
and himself The sleigh rocked peril
ously At times, for the road was rough
in places, but the danger Of tipoyef
could not then be even considered.
Carlson had scarcely faced the wolves
for action when the leader again leaped,
this time with view Of SELLING the man.
Carlson fred and wounded the beast.
which fell back bowling upon the road.
But the leader was not put outof action.
He was quickly back in his position.
more savage and eager for battle than
before.
Two Of the wolves shot alongside the
sleigh to the right, and one took the
same position on the left, beside the
bride. Carlson quickly<shot one Of the
two ON his side, and. reaching over to
the other side, killed the one that threat
ened to leap upon his wife. The beasts
were bit disconnected at this, but came
on again, eager for their prey.
Carlson wounded two more Of the
beasts and then his cartridges were
gone. Another wolf tried to leap upon
the bride from the side of the sleigh, but
she piled the whip on the beast with
such good will that he drew back.
Just then the sleigh dashed into the
clearing of the Carlson cabin, and the big
homesteader shouted for Joy. He
thought that the wolves would now dis
perse. But the brutes were hungry and
the rapture Of the fight was in them.
Carlson's dog, brave as its master, now
came to the rescue, and he was instantly
killed by the first wolf that he attacked.
The team stopped in front Of the cabin
door, as II expecting safe haven there.
Quivering with fear and steaming from
their exertions.
"Out Of the sleigh, Quick!" shouted
Carlson to his bride.
He was by her side when she struck
the ground, and he kicked the door in.
Pushing her In and bidding her close
the door, he turned with the revolver
Nclubbed in his left hand and q heavy
pocketknife with open blade In his right.
-Four wolves attacked him before he
could back into the door, which was his
intention, and be hesitated to try and
get into the house for fear the wolves
would follow him even there. Besides.
his team must be protected after having
brought him and his wife to the cabin
without accident,
Carlson Is strong and active man,
but his strength and knife would not
have saved him had 1t not been for his
bride. Suddenly there was a crash Of
glass near the spot where the battle be-
tween the man and the wolves was In
progress, and instantly the clearing
about the house was lit up with sheet Of
fame The wolves fled in terror.
When Mrs. Carlson found herself in
the house she CROPPED about for aweapon
with which to help her husband do bait
tie with the wolves. In the pocket Of her
cloak was box Of matches, one Of the
numerous supplies they had purchased
that they had come near forgetting, and
she happened to think Of It while crop
ing in the.darkness.
Lighting a match her eye fell on q
lamp. Taking q broom, she emptied the
kerosene from the lamp upon the broom
and applied lighted match toit. Then,
breaking the window Of the cabin, the
bride climbed through the aperture with
her flaming torch ahead Of her The
wolves that braved revolver and knife,
fed preclpitately at the sight Of the
flaming torch. carlson's clothing was
torn and he was bleeding from face and
hands. But he was still strong and cool.
His first words were: Get the lam
tern, Lena. It's in the corner by the
table"
Lighting another match, she soon re-
appeared with the lantern, ready for use.
Carlson stabbed his team. but Lena
helped him. despite his protests When
they had returned TO the cabin. and Mrs
Carlson had dressed the wounds sus-
tanned by her husband, he turned to her
and said;
LENA, you have saved my life. hit
had not been for your quick wit, courage
and promptness Of action. I would GER
tainIy have been killed out there" jerk
ing his thumb significantly toward the
door.
Maybe" said the faithful Lena, but
you forget that you saved me out there
in the woods and again at the door"
Don't forget the team, Lena. II was
the horses that saved us both. We must
not forget, too. that poor Sport, my dog,
died for US"
Iena then rot husy With the supplies,