Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-17

80 =
Few minutes the wolf seemed TO ior-
get him, and Hoped away into the
woods, going down the river. .
Inc young surveyor Kept MS percn
IN the tree let several minutes al
Ter Inc animal was out Oh signt. me
pecu,lar norror o. one peru, Deyona
All the Ordinary rorms Oh deaah, nad
colnpleteiy unnerved MN. Inen. IKE
nasn, II came eupon MIN That the
WON was neading directly lot the
McNeiM clearing.
~ would come bfndiy out upon the
potato patch and the children; and IN
It's madness. as ne had learned, 1t
mad no fear OF man.
Inc immanence o. this more appail-
ing danger shocked Graham out OF
MS panic.
he slid down from the tree breath
lessiy and dashed toward the river.
ihe river alone could carry MIN iast
enough to overtake and pass the
raDid animal, and TOR the nrst timc
ne blessed tine rapid current.
HIS XII stu lay piled beside the
canoe, and ne splashed the craft IN
10 tne water, taxing nothing Win
MN but the rlhe. There was no
time TO make another portage; ne
would nave 70 run the rapid, ana
the spray was scattering In his face
before ne regarded the danger.
The canoe shot like bullet down
the boiling cascade, missing the
poulders more by good luck than
good steering, shipped couple OF
bucketfuls OF water as It heeled, and
Dust through bank OF piled foam
with q hurry OF white makes.
Inc paddle was almost Wrenched
from Horace's hand when ne dipped
It; but ne was already close to the
bottom OF the fall when violent
twisting eddy caught the canoe
asiant, and 1t went over.
/. For moment Horace was checked,
battered and blinded, and then he
came up at the foot OF the rapid,
teenng dizzy and half-stunned. Sew
eral inches OF skin were gone from
enc hand, where IT had come IN con-
tact with a rock, but no serious dam
age had been done. and he plunged
aller the canoe Whlcn was hoatlng
quietay, bottom upward, lew yards
away.
Inc water was hardly waist-deep,
and ne overlook and righted the
craH, and clambered gingerly aboard.
fls rine was somewhere at the DOT
tom OF the stream, but there was
no time to look Tor 1t. There was
sure 10 ne q gun OF some sort at the
settlers cabin, although the settler
himseif' as ne Just ohen remember
ed. was absent.
he recovered the floating paddle,
ana snot down the stream at rae
ing pace, with the drip from his gar
ments making pool In the bottom
OF the canoe.
He heard the voices OF the chill
dren close TO the bank before he
reached the clearing, and realized
with a gasp OF thankfulness that he
was too late.
Rum" he shouted, bursting ashore
through the willows. Run for the
housed"
Bertha, like a true daughter OF
the backwoods, asked no questions,
but seized enc OF the csildren With
each hand and made for the shanty
dragging the pair, who shrleked with
one accord.
Horace had started after them,
when he was terrified to see gray
doghke form emerging from the dead
brush that edged the clearing, and
between the fugiuves and himself.
The animal snapped at the brush
wood as 1t scrambled through, and
Eertha, glancing back at that mo.
ment, scream 3D. Instantly the wolf
threw Up Its head, caught sight OF
her, and with a sort of snarling howl
raced after ner across tile potato
bills.
Horace gave a warning shout, and
ran lmpeded with the crying chill
dren, the girl seemed certain to be
oyertaken befor she could reach the
cabin. The animal was not twenty
yards IN front OF Horace. but he
could not gain on 1t. and In despair
ne stopped, picked up large potato
and hurled 1t.
Horace had been the pitcher for
the junior ball team Of the school
OF science, and the potato struck the
wolf hard on the flank, and stagger-
ed 1t. He flung another and missed
IN his hurry, but the brute paused,
looked round angrily and wheeled In
pursuit Of its new enemy.
In his turn Horace ran for his hfe,
making for the river with a confused
notion Of getting into his canoe. He
reached the shore. but the canoe was
not there He had forgotten just
where ne mad lett 1t, and he mad Just
time to wheel and meet the rabid
animars charge with a vigorous kick
that caught II under the Jaw and