The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-09-22

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sun was shining on a white n,,o %
bones, that could be distinctly sooo
far back on the river.
1T doesn't take long" muttsr.,
Hardy, "if 1t must come"
Then he thought of the princo.,
shuddered and breathed a PRAYER
And still the horses ran on and ~,
the sledge was light and they wers
winged with terror. Again and again
Hardy shot--shot as never befora
and seldom missed. The fire of bo,
tie was in his veins, that fierce and
deadly mastery of self that exalts a
brave man when he both hunts ana
is hunted.
Have courage" he cried, I'VE shall
reach Petrovska yeti"
But now the chase took on new
and more dangerous feature. When
wolf was killed, not all of the mach
dropped behind to devour him.
One, more bold than the Others
sprang up at the back of the sedge al
if to leap in. and Hardy, firing into
the open mouth, fairly blew the ferea
creatures head off. The flash and er.
plosion for a moment terrified the fol.
lowing pack and caused it to drou
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 rife were all ey.
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 merl
cyl" she groaned.
Have courage" cried Hardy, 'hs|
will soon be out of his agony, and II
think his death has saved our liyes'l
The two remaining horses did no.l
seem to notice the loss of their com.I
panion, as the sledge glided easiyI
over the smooth ice. They still RAM
nobly on, though they were reekins
with steam.
The sledge came to bend in ths|
river, and for moment its occupants
lost sight of the wolves.
Perhaps they have given up It'd
chase" said Hardy; perhaps, too
they are satisfied with the horse"
But the princess shook her head
They will never give over h&
chase" she said and, at that moment
gray form fitted around the bend
the river; two, three, half dozen
and soon 20 or 80 of the pack wer
again about the sledge, leaping at
and at the hcyses with sharp, shor
yelps and snarls, their red tonguee
lolling, their jaws flecked with bloc0
and foam.
There! there!" cried the isvoschl4
pointing down the river with IN
handle of his whip. 'PetrovskaI
Petrovska! Bless the Virgin!"
The rays of the setting sun fell fua
on the dome of Greek church, but
was a conspicuous object and "a
away.
A wolf was hanging to the neck
one of the horses. Him Hardy sho
and, leaning over the curved das
discharged his weapon into the bog
of another that was clinging to u
other horse.
''Elizabetha," he said, turning to
princess, his face white but glorihe
| that is the last shot. II there We
but one more, we might reach PelrV
ska. Here, with Death for a wltne
| tell you that | love you. In
presence of Death, there is no ran
there are no princesses, no merchahs
| love you, dear"
She arose and threw herself on
breast. For a long minute they s'o
thus, clasped in each others arms
to lip, forgetful even of death itsel
The wolves came on again ll%
ran snarling up to the rear OF
sledge, for the last attack. a
Then the little maid, seated Oh =
floor, arose from her bundle oil r
and tore the hood from her head
rays of the setting sun were shln n
in her face. "a
Look into my eyes once more
cried oh, let me look on your ri
again-one long, last look"
Hardy raised his head. 81
"Aisome! Wang!" he gasped
wonder and could say no more
Farewell, my beloved ana
voice sounded like the voice ~
priestess, chanting, II give you 10 III
and to happiness, who have ~
you the most!" and she leaped q"
the wolves.
A path beaten in the snow leu n
the river bank, into the outsKi X
Petrovska, and up this the H.
horses dashed, their noble run az
| end.
Several of the wolves FOLLOWED H..
to the top of the bank, glanced az
houses and the villagers s"o' ~
from them, and skunk away Va
the horses. his strong heart pui III
fell dead beside his mate WIN III