Gilpin observer., 1910-06-09


line, leaving the carcass one by one.
In less than five minutes they were all
back by the sledge again, and the low
sun was shining on a white pile OF
bones, that could be distinctly seen.
far back on the river.
1T doesn't take long," muttered
Hardy, IF it must come"
Then he thought of the princess.
shuddered and breathed a 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, I'VE shall
reach Petrovska yeti"
But now the chase took on a new
and more dangerous feature. When
a wolf was killed, not all of the pack
dropped behind to devour him.
One, more bold than the 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 and ex-
plosion for a moment terrified the fol-
lowing pack and caused it to drop
back He turned and aimed at an ami
NAL 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.:
hausted! In this moments delay q
wolf succeeded in fastening its fangs
in the horses flank, and hung there.
snarling. The unfortunate steed
leaped forward with such violence
that the traces parted, and instantly
all the wolves were tearing at him.
pulling him down.
God have mercy! God have mer.
cyl" she groaned.
Have courage" cried Hardy, he
will soon be out Of his agony, and I
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 glided easily
over the smooth ice. They still ran
nobly on, though they were reeking
with steam.
The sledge came to bend in the
river, and for a moment its 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,
gray form fitted around the bend In
the river; two, three, half a dozen.
and soon 20 or 80 of the pack were
again about the sledge, leaping at IL
and at the hosses with sharp, short
yelps and snarls, their red tongues
lolling, their jaws fecked with blood
and foam.
There! there!" cried the isvoschik,
pointing down the river with the
handle Of his whip. "Petrovskal
Petrovska! Bless the Virgin!"
The rays Of the setting sun fell full
on the dome Of Greek church, but IL
was a conspicuous object and far
away
A wolf was hanging to the neck Of
one of the horses. Him Hardy shot,
and, leaning over the curved dash,
discharged his weapon into the body
Of another that was clinging to the
other horse.
"Elizabetha," he said. turning to the
princess, his face white but glorified.
that is the last shot. II there were
but one more, we might reach Petrov.
ska. Here, with Death for witness.
I tell you that I love you. In the
presence Of Death, there is no rank,
there are no princesses. no merchants.
I love you, dear"
She arose and threw herself on his
breast For a long minute they stood
thus, clasped in each others arms, lip
to lip, forgetful even of death itself.
The wolves came on again. They
ran snarling up to the rear Of the
sledge, for the last attack.
Then the little maid, seated on the
floor, arose from her bundle OF furs
and tore the hood from her head. The
rays of the setting sun were shining
In her face.
Look into my eyes once more" she
cried: "oh, let me look on your face
again-one long. last look!"
Hardy raised his head.
"Aisome! Wang!" he gasped in
wonder and could say no more
Farewell. my beloved" and her
voice sounded like the voice of .
priestess. chanting. II give you to her
and to happiness-I who have IovaA
you the most!" and she leaped among
the wolves.
A path beaten in the snow led up
the river bank. into the outskirts ol
Petrovska, and up this the tired
horses dashed, their noble run Mt N
end.