Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-18

head covered with fur hood that al
most entirely obscured Ier face, and
took her place in the bottom Of the
sledge.
There were long deaolate stretches
Of snow, with here and there a house,
the roof covered With snow, Nesting
among the white hills.
The bells on the galloping horeses
crashed musically, and their shod
hoofs clattered and rang on the Ice.
I'VE are going almost fast as the
train" remarked the Princess.
Much faster than the trains which
we have just left" replied Hardy,
which are not going at all!"
"Do you know said Romanovna,
that not so very many months ago.
it would have been necessary for me
to make the entire journey from
Stryetensk to Khabarovka by sledges?
There are relays at the different mill
itary stations, and one could really
have travelled the distance In COM
paratively short time, If one found
the river frozen all the way"
II should have been pleased" ven.
tured Hardy, ''to serve as your High
ness escort for the entire distance"
The Princess vouchsafed no reply
to this, and he had not the courage to
glance at her face.
They passed occasional patches Of
forest, the limbs etched very black
and distinct against the background
Of snow. They had left the town about
two o'clock and 1t was half.past three
| now
There must be farmhouse some
where near" observed Hardy III your
Highness feels cold. saw a large dog
running among the trees moment
ago."
Just then the driver pointed with
the whip toward the woods and cro3s-
ed himself. The Princess also made
the sign of the cross and said quiet
ly:
Chose are wolves! May the holy
Virgin protect us!"
Two large gray animals with bushy
tails that We're dogs and yet not dogs
were seen fitting among the trees.
Their tongues hung out OF their
mouths and as they glanced from
time to time at the sledge and its
occupants, their teeth could be plainly
seen.
Have no fear" said Hardy, they
are so few they will not dare to at
tack"
At that moment third joined the
two and ran with them. They ran
easily, fitting along as lightly as
thistle-down driven by the wind The
driver arose in his seat and cracked
his whip over the horses heads. ;.
BE careful. Ivan," said the Prtn-
cess. Edo not tire them out. How far
Is It yet to Petrovska?"
Twenty versts," he replied. Eve
should make it in something over m
hour, II the horses hold out It was
near here over year ago that Far
mer GogoA was dragged from his
sledge by wolves and devoured. had
not heard of many being seen this
year The Virgin defend us!"
For at this moment one of the ami
mails emitted long, mournful howl,
the most dismal and terrible sound
in nature.
IT beg of your Highness not to be
-" commenced Hardy, but she laid
her hand on his arm, and whispered:
Listen"
Far in the depths Of the forest m
answering howl was Leard, then an
other, farther away, and still others,
both up and down the river.
One of the wolves, fitting along the
bank, lifted up nls voice, to be in
turn answered by a sporadic chorus
from the forest.
There we're now six wolves in sight,
drifting out and In among the trees
like gray ghosts.
Soon one of these tripped lightly
through the snow down the river bank
and trotted along after the sledge
on the ice. like a faithful dog.
They show no signs Of attacking"
said Hardy.
They are famished," said the Prin-
cess, but they. are as patient as
death, and as intelligent as humans.
They are too few yet"
A second and a third Joined the
two on the river, while the pack on
the bank steadily grew, and noiseless-
ly, save for an occasional call into the
deeps for help.
The maid sat motionless, without
looking up or stirring.
Hardy lifted a rifle from the bottom
Of the siedse.
II could kill one OF them now" he
said, "and perhaps that would scare
them away"
f'It ia not time yet, my friend" re-
piled the Princess. II shall tell you.
am Russian and know when to
shoot. You must not waste q single
shot Nothing would scare them
away" she added.
The isvoschik was using all his
strength to keep his horses from ak,