Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-04-14

though paralyzed with terror. Inc
princess sat erect, looking straight
ahead, the seal of a sublime courage
set on her pale, noble brow. The
blood of the Romanof 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 God" 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 l 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.
Not yet, not quite yet" replied the
princess, they become maddened
when they smell blood"
A moment later a 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
H. I.s.xaui. zonA t~Olr 1t,inL aim opH
fired at this particular wolf, the n
that had begun the attack in earn
est. He fell kicking and writing
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 a 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 a
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,
s%huddered 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 q 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
F.. 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 droI
, back. He turned and aimed at an ami
NAL that was swapping at n of th'
horses, but, when he pulled the trig
t ger, no report ensued. His fact
blanched as he dropped the weapon
and drew his revolver. The shots il
the magazine of the rifle were all eX
hausted! In this moments delay
wolf succeeded in fastening its fang
tn the horses flank, and hung there
snarling. The unfortunate stee'
l leaped forward with such violence
0 that the traces parted, and Instant,
all the wolves were tearing at him
. pulling him down.
God have mercy! God have mel
s cyl" she groaned.
Have courage" cried Hardy, "h
will soon be out Of his agony, and
3 think his death has saved u lives.
: The two remaining horses did nc
seem to notice the loss of their con
panion, as the sledge glided easil
over the smooth ice. They still ra
nobly on. though they were reekin
with steam.
The sledge came to q bend in tn
river, and for a moment its occupant
d lost sight Of the wolves.
Perhaps they have given up tn
chase" said Hardy; perhaps, to-
" they are satisfied with the horse"
But the princess shook her head.
"They will never give over II
Q chase" she said, and, at that momen
a gray form fitted around the bend
It the river; two, three, half a doze
and soon 20 or 30 of the pack wei
J" again about the sledge, leaping at
" and at the horses with sharp, sho
Ie yelps and snarls, their red tongue
lolling, their jaws fiecked with bloc
and foam.
"Therel there!' cried the isyoschi
le pointing down the river with u
|" handle Of his whip. "Petrovsk'
TX Petrovskai Bless the Virgin