Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-01-13
PURSUED BY YES
By WIN. A. STIMSoN.
81 = = > 3 = @sR eRse

| y
lake was Il sheet of smooth ice. w,
boys became experts in the use o
skates, and most of our leisure tim,
was spent on the ice. The creates
rivalry existed between the two lax,
towns, and skating matches were fire
| quently held. Although the country
was sparSely settled, nearly all til,
wild animals had disappeared before
our coming, hut there were bears il
the forest and wOIves-big, fierce fel
lows that hunger sometimes made dan
gerOus.
One cold afternoon toward the emf
Of January | buckled on my skates
for trip to ROckland to make final
arrangements for Il skating match be-
tween teams from the two towns that
was set for the next day. l was late
in 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 nv
right as | struck out
l was I'm no hurry and skated along
easily, saving my strength for the NOR
row. l had gone about n quarter of
the distance when, from somewhere
away OF in the forest. there came TO
my ears the howl of a wolf. All was
silent again for 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
GifedY my HState6 kPt4Se Il uneasy and quick
BY this time the moon had risen
high enough to make everything light
as day, only along the eastern shore
the shadows We're still dense. Sud
denly from the woods on my right an
other series of bowls broke out on the
night air. and as l Glanced around |
saw half a 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 l 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 l 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 to a shrill bark. One big fellow
led the pack by several yards. The
pace was telling on me and my pur-
suers were gaining every second. A
glance backward showed them not q
hundred yards in the rear.
Home was still four miles away and
there was no help near. l had moth,
ing in the shape of a weapon except
my jack-knife. and as l sped along
drew this from my pocket and opened
the big blade.
The pack was at my back when IL
occurred TO me that might yet escape
them by putting in practice some tao
ties familiar to every one who has
played the game of tag These
tactics wefe no hing more than dOdg
ing the wolves when they came close
enough. and knew that on the smooth
I az Il yn
Slackenng my speed, waited for the
leader of the pack to approach little
nearer. On lie came, until l coulC
see the fire flash from his eyes an(
the froth drop from his half-opel
jaws. When he gathered himself t.
spring, l turned sharply to the RICH
and darted off at full speed.
The manoeuvre worked perfectly.
The wolf leaped just as l 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. II
their attempt to turn quickly, lost thei
feet and fell over each other, givini
me several precious seconds, whlcl
l used to advantage
BY my trick / had gained some dis
lance, but the wolves We're closing ii
on me again. l waited until tn
leader was almost upon me the secOnt
time. then swung about TO the left
The beast was anticipating some sucI
movement on my part for he did no
spring, and I found that | had no
gained the start that | did the frs
time. However. it helped, for as
heard the quick breathing of the pac
! at my heels once more. | saw til
lights of the village around bend /
the bank.
But the murderous beasts were to
intent or their prey to be frightene
off even by the proximity Of the Sc
Element. My strength was nearl
gone and | was afraid that cOul
not execute the dodge this time wit
the success that had followed my othe
efforts. Nervug myself for 81
preme effort altered my course agaiI
and for the third time the wolves wer
sprawllng. but in turning gave M
right ankle twist, and with a shri
cry of pain fell full length upon I'll
Ice.
gave myself mp for lost and awaite
the attack with my knife read
When they saw me at bay the wolvC
hesitated, but only for a moment. Or
big fellow made leap for my throa
when there came shout from Il
shore, followed by gunshot that lai
the wolf low. His death was the ST.
nal for the fight of the others, al
away they went, pursued by sever
rife halls.
When my father and two brothe