The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-01-05
PER|LouS FISHING
A MldWinter Adventure on the Ice
In Lake Michigan.
TWO SURPRISES AND A FIGHT.

| snSeoeIon Of q Treacherous Visitor,
The Battle and the Rescue.
A few years ago. in the dead of win.
ter. DR.. NJ. A. Leach was out on Lake
Michigan In friends hut. fishing
through the Ice. Everything was pro-
ceeding merrily when. says the doctor:
"There came u sudden report, sound
ing like thunder. The ice was going.
Il rushed outside. but the snow was
binding, and could not even see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the ice was
quivering strangely. was frightened
but as there was no help for 1t went
back to the hut.
"This was about noon. I noticed, to
my relief, that there were no cracks
coming beneath the hut. so that II the
Ice did 60 out l should Mt least he OH a
big cake for time. The big cakes
do not Inst very long in Lake Michi-
gan. could not tell what was hap
pening outside. for the wind was
shrieking and bowling horribly. and
every few seconds the ice would split
with resounding crash. So, for lack
Of something better to do. I arranged
a frying pan had over the little stove.
and to keep up my food supply start
ed frying some fish. In few minutes
the place was filled with a H,ost ap-
petizing odor. which, presume. had
something to do with what followed.
First of all heard a series Of
low whines outside; then something
scratched at the door. opened 1t in
amazement. thinking that some dog
had perhaps been lost on the ice and
had found my hut. TO my surprise,
however, II great unkempt animal en-
tered ana fawned about my feet. lick.
ing my boots. and. although had nev-
er seen one, I knew that 1t was gray
wolf. The animal seemed terrified be-
yond measure and showed no sign
whatever of wildness.'
AS the doctor had no other weapon
than his knife and frozen fishing
line. he was in qaundary. But the
wolf seemed lonely and showed
strong desire to make himself Mt home.
so they spent the night quite charm
ingly together The next morning-to
hear what the doctor says:
II awoke to find the sun up, the day
bright and clear and the land four or
five miles west Of us. All around float
ed cakes Of ice, going the same way
as ourselves in the grip Of some cur
rent. My fears passed away with the
bright sunlight, and used up my last
wood in cooking some fish for the
wolf, while finished the basket Of
provisions.
$50 the wolf and went out in the
sunshine, and now the animal grew
surly and no longer welcomed my ap-
proaches. However, saw a dot NOV
ing among the ice and rs 1t neared
saw that 1t was fish boat, doubtless
with a rescue party on board. And
now came the most surprising part Of
my adventure.
1.-THE boat was about half a mile
distant, and the occupants. having seen
me and waved to me, started to make
their way through the floating ice. l
saw the wolf watching them with bris.
ting hair, and suddenly he turned to
me with low growl. l offered him
a bit of fish. but he took no notice, and
I began to fear that he realized that
my rescue would not include his. At
any rate. he drew back n few steps.
bis eyes fixed on mine; then, with a
quick movement. he sprang at ME.
Il had no weapon except a short
knife. which was closed. All could
do was to jump aside. hitting him with
my fist as he missed me, an old box.
Ing trick. But l had not counted on
that savage side slash Of the great
teeth, and when the animal gained his
feet and turned to fly at me again my
hand was streaming with blood from
a small cash. heard shouts from the
approaching fish boat, but as the par
ty were unarmed they could not help
me.
Immediately upon getting his bal
ance on the snow the wolf came to.
ward me slowly and sprang again.
This time was really frightened, and
with wild idea Of holding him away
till my friends could assist me l met
him halfway, grasped his throat in
both hands, and we both fell to the
snow together. for the impact Of his
leap was tremendous. hung on to his
throat; but, although kept the gleam-
Ing teeth OF, could not hold his feet.
He struck at me savagely with his
hind paws, the sharp claws tearing
through my coat like knives, and l
realized my danger just in time to
cast myself backward. Instantly the
wolf returned to the attack, and this
time the look in his face frightened me
20 that did not wait for him. whip.
ped my coat away and threw 1t in his
face, then turned and, running to the
side Of the ice cake, leaped into the
water.
II am a good swimmer, and the boat
was only 100 feet distant, so in no time
was aboard and getting into warm
Il.