The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-04-21

evidently nearly complete now, though
an occasional gray form would fit out
from among the trees. stand and look
with lifted head, and then join the
chase with long, easy lope.
The little maid, crouched in the bot
tom of the sledge and bundled in furs
still remained motionless, speechless,
as though paralyzed with terror. The
princess sat erect, looking straight
ahead, the seal of a sublime courage
set on her pale, noble brow. The
blood of the Romanoff did not fear to
die She turned to the man at her
side and smiled sweetly-more sweet
ly than he had ever seen woman
smile before.
Forgive me, my friend" she said,
"for bringing you into this fearful
danger"
81 thank Cod" cried Hardy, that
I am here and nowhere else!"
His voice rang out with sudden fer
vor, with a sob of joy.
Thank you, my friend said the
princess simply.
May I shoot now" asked Hardy.
Several of the wolves were close
to one Of the horses, and were look
ing up at the animals throat. This
was the horse that was running free;
he was crowded against the other two
of the team in his terror.
mot yet, not quite yet" replied the
princess, they become maddened
when they smell blood"
A moment later wolf darted sud-
denly in and leaped at the throat Of
the horse, which reared, snorted with
terror, and then bounded ahead with
a sudden burst of incredible speed.
Hardy arose, and leaning against
the drivers seat, took quick aim and
fired at this particular wolf, the one
that had begun the attack in earn
est. He fell kicking and writhing
on the ice and instantly the entire
pack huddled above and about him
snarling, swapping, scrambling, tear
ing-an indiscriminate mass Of fur
and fury, teeth and hunger.
There are IL shots in the maya
zine, and five in the revolver" said
Hardy, who saw ray of hope in this
action of the wolves. with care,
they should last us to Petrovska. How
far is it yet to Petrovska, Ivan" he
shouted.
About 20 versts," replied Ivan, I'VE
should reach it in"
Hardy glanced behind. The strug-
Cling, snarling mass was still there
on the ice, but already several mem
bers of the pack had left it and were
taking up the chase again. He stood
watching them as they came on in
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 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 1t 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 a
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 /
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 a 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.
q gray form fitted around the bend in
the river; two. three, half dozen.
and soon 20 or 80 of the pack were
again about the sledge. leaping at It
and at the horses with sharp. short
yslps and snarls. their red tongues
lolllng. their jaws fiecked with blood
and foam.
There! therel" cried the isvoschik.
pointing down the river with the
handle of his whip. ''PetroVskal
Petrovska! Bless the virgin!"
The rays of the setting sun fen fan