Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-21

tHe tQTlV6rS seat, UOOk quick aim anC
fired at this particular wolf, the one
that had begun the attack IN earnest
He fell kicking and writing on the
Ice and instantly the entire pack hud
died above and about him, snarling
swapping, surambling, tearin.- an in
discriminate mass OF fur and fury
teeth and hunger.
''Ihere Re eleven shots in the
magazine, and five in the revolver
said Hardy, who saw q ray of hope
In this action of the wolves. ''Witl
care, they SHOULD last us to Petrovska
How far is it yet to Petrovska, Ivan?'
he. shouted. -.
About twenty versts," replied Ivan
we should reach 1t in"
Hardy glanced behind. The strug
Cling, snarling mass was still there on
| the Ice, but already several members
Of the pack had left it and were taking
| up tie chase again He stood watch
Ing them rs they came on in a line
! leaving the carcass one by one II
less than five minutes they were all
back by the sledge again, and the
low sun was shinging on q white pile
Of bones, that could be distinctly seen
lar DaCk on the river.
ut doesn't take long," muttered
Hardy, IF 1t must GOMEZ
Then he thought Of the Princess,
shuddered and breathed d prayer.
And still the horses ran on and on
the sledge was light and they were
winged with terror. Again and again
Hardy shot shot as never before
and seldom missed. The fire of bat.
tie was in his veins, that fierce and
deadly mastery OF self that exalts a
brave man when he both hunts and is
hunted.
Have courage" he cried, 1--WE shall
reach Petrovska YETI
But now the chase took on new
and more dangerous feature. When a
wolf was killed, not all of the pack
dropped behind to devour him.
One, more bold tina nthe others
sprang UP at the back of the sledge as
If to leap In, and Hardy, firing into
the open mouth, fairly blew the fierce
creatures head off. The flash aud ex-
plUsion for moment terrified the
following pack and caused 1t to drop
back. He turned and aimed at an an
imal that was Swapping at one of the
horses, but, when he pulled the trig-
ger, no report ensued. His face
blanched as he dropped the weapon,
and drew his revolver. The shots in
the magazine of the rifle were all ex-
hnusted! In this moments delay q
wolf succeeded In fasting. it's fangs in
the horses flank, and hung there,
snarling. The unfortunate steed leap.
Ell forward with such violence that
the traces parted, and instantly all
the wolves were tearing at him. pull.
ing him down. The Princess had never
before heard a horse scream in ter
ror. 1t is sound seldom heard ex-
cept in battle.
God have mercy! God have mer-
cyl" she groaned.
Have courage" cried Hardy, che
will soon be out of his agony and |
think his death has saved our lives"
The two remaining horses did not
seem to notice the loss of their COM
panion, as the sledge gl1ded easily
over the smooth ice. They Still ran
nobly on, though they were reeking
with steam.
The sledge came to a bend in the
river, and for a moment it's occupants
lost sight of the wolves.
Perhaps they have given UP the
chase said Hardy; perhaps, too
they are satisfied with the horse"
But the Princess shook her head.
They will never give over the
chase she said, and, at that moment
a gray form fitted around the bend
in the river; two, three, half dozen
and soon twenty or thirty of the pack
We're again about the. sledge, leapine
at 1t and at the horses with sharp
short yelps and snarls, their red
| tongues lolling, their jaws flecked
| with blood and foam.
There! there!' cried the. isvoschik
pointing down the river. with the
handle Of his whip. '::Petrovska! Pc
trovska! Bless the Virgin!'
The rays of the setting sun fell full
on the dome of Greek church, but j:
was a conspicuous object and far
| away.
A wolf was hanging to the neck Il
one Of the horses. Him Hardy shot
and flaming over thu curved daah dia