The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-01-05

4
end OF Bear Lake. pretty sheet of
water, eight miles long. while Rock
lahd was ut the southern extremity.
Between the two places The forest
stretched unbroken. and there was not
a single house on either bank.
The winters were cold. and from
December 10 April of every year the
lake was sheet of smooth ice. We
boys became experts in the use of
skates, and most of our leisure time
was spent on the ice. The greatest
rivalry existed between the two lake
towns and skating matches were fire.
quently held. Although the country
was Sparsely settled nearly all the
wild animals had disappeared before
our coming but there were bears i'm
the forest and wolves-big. fierce fell
lows mat hunger sometimes made dan
gerouS.
one cold afternoon toward the end
OF January | buckled on my skates
Tor trip To ROckland to make final
arrangements for Il skating match be-
tween teams from the two towns that
III starting, and the boys at RockIand
Kept me SO long that it was after sun
set before | left for home. But it was
full moon, and the big yellow orb was
just peeping over the woods at my
right rs | struck out.
l was in no hurry and skated alonr
easily, saving my strength for the NOR
a
the distance when, from somewhere
away OF in the forest. there came 10
my ears the howl of "A wolf. All was
silent again for Il few minutes. then
the sound was repeated. 1t was not
so far off this time, end there was no
answering note from the opposite shore
That these beasts would attack a
man never occurred to me, but being
alone on the lake and far away from
home. the close proximity of the
wolves made me uneasy, and | quick
ened my strokes a little.
BY this time the moon had risen
high enough to make everything light
as day, only a.ong the eastern shore
the shadows We're still dense. Sud.
denly from the woods on my right an
other series of howlS broke out on the
night air. and rs | danced around
saw half Il dozen long, gaunt gray
creatures leave the underbrush and
come racing towards me over the ice.
l realized then that the wolves were
chasing me and grew thoroughly
frightened. My fears were increased
when | saw several more leave the
cover of the western bank. End cutting
diagonally across. join the first pack.
l buttoned my short coat and struck
out at my best pace. thinking that
when they saw me leaving them they
would give up the pursuit.
That was mistake. as | soon saw.
They, too, increased their speed. and
came bounding along after me. their
bodies almost touching the ice. Every
now and then one of them would give
voice 10 a shrill bark. one big fellow
led the pack by several yards. The
pace was telling on me aud my pur-
suers were gaining every second. \
glance backward showed them not
hundred yards in the rear.
Home was still four miles away and
there was no help near. | had moth
ing in the shape of a weapon except
my jack-knife. and as sped along ]
drew this from my pocket and opened
the big blade.
The pack was at my back when il
occurred to me that l might yet escape
them by putting in practice some tao.
tics familiar TO every one who has
played the game Of tag" These
tactics Were nothing more than dods-
ing the wolves when they came close
enough. and | knew that on the smooth
ice | had them at a disadvantage.
Slackening my speed. / waited for the
leader of the pack TO approach a little
nearer. On he came. until could
see the fire fash from his eyes and ,
the froth drop from his half-open
jaws. When he gathered himself TO
spring. | turned sharply to the right
and darted off at full speed.
The manoeuvre worked perfectly.
The wolf leaped just as | spun about |
and instead OF alighting upon my
shoulders. he went slipping and slid |
ing over the ice for a distance OF seve- !
eral yards. The rest Of the pack. in !
their attempt to turn quickly. lost their !
feet and fell over each other. giving /.
me several precious seconds. which !
j used to advantage.
BY my trick l had gained some dis. |
tance. but the wolves were closing in !
on me again. / waited until tho |
leader was almost upon me the second |
time. then swung about 10 the left. |
The beast was anticipating some such |
movement on my part. for he did no,
spring. and / found that I had not |