The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-01-10
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PURSUED BY VOL YES
BY WIN. A. STIMSoN
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consin was wilderness.
To% We lived at the northern
end Of Bear Lake, Il pretty sheet of
water, eight miles long. Willie Rock.
land 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 to April Of every year the
lake was n 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 laRe
towns. and skating matches were fire.
quentiy held. Although the country
was Sparsely settled. nearly all the
wild animals had disappeared before
our coming, but there were bears in
the forest and wolves-big. fierce fell
lows that hunger sometimes made dan
gerous.
One cold afternoon toward the end
OF January l buckled on my skates
for trip to Rockland to make final
arrangements for a 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 Rockland
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 as | struck out.
was in no hurry and skated along
easily, saving my strength for the NOR
row. | had gone about a quarter Of
the distance when, from somewhere
away on 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, and 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 l quick
ened my strokes a little.
BY this time the moon had risen
high enough to make everything light
the shadows We're still dense sud
denly from the woods on my right an
other series of hOwls broke ont Oh the
night air. and as l Glanced around l
saw half a dozen long, gaunt. gray
creatures leave the uuderbrush and
come racing towards me over the ice.
L realized then that the wolves were
xrNIu af fHtsV 4 -.
frightened. Ny fears were increased
when j saw several more leave the
cover Of the western bank, end cutting
diagonally across, join the first pack.
| buttoned my short coat and struck
out at my best pace. thinking that
when they saw me leaving them they
would give MP the pursuit.
That was mistake, as l sOoa 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 Shrill bark. One big fellow
led the pack by several yards. The
pace was telling Oh me aud my pur-
suers were gaining every second. \
glance backward showed them not a
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 60 me that / might yet escape
them by putting IN practice some tac-
ties familiar to every one who has
played the game OF tag These
tactics We're no hing more than dodg-
ing the wolves when they came close
enough. aud knew that ON the smooth
zee had them at disadvantage.
Slackening my speed, | waited for the
leader of the pack TO approach little
nearer. On lie came. until / could
see the fire fash from his eyes and
the fro;h drop from his half-open
Jaws When he gathered himself to
81 ring 1 turned sharply TO the right
and darted OF at full speed.
The manOeuyre worked perfectly.
The WOLF leaped just as / spun about,
and instead of allghung upon my
shoulders he went slipping and slid
lug over the ice for distance Of seye-
eral yards. The rest of the pack. in
their attempt 10 turn quickly, lost their
feet and fell over each other, giving
me several precious seconds, which
used 10 advantage
By my trick l had gained some dis
tance, but the wolves were closing in
ON me again. / waited until the
leader was almost upon me the second
tine, then swung about to the left.
The beast was anticipating some such
movement on my part, for he did not
spring, and | found that | had not
gained the start that | did the first
time. However. II helped, for as !
heard the quick breathing of the pack
at my heels once more, saw the
lights OF the village around a bend 10
the bank.
But the murderous beasts were too
tntent on their prey to be frightened
off even by the proximity OF the set
tIement. Ny strength was nearly
gone and l was afraid that | could
not execute the dodge this time vita
the success that had followed my other
efforts. Serying myself for a SUI
prcmc effort altered my course again.