The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-13

each other, Sonia with despair. He well
knew that there was now a double dan
ger. If they drove on they would be
eaten by the wolves. Behind them were
capture, separation and Siberia. Peter,
rising to the occasion, gave the reins
to Sonia and took up such arms from
the bottom of the sleigh as he might
have occasion to use. He had intended
them for human pursuers. Now he
might need them for both man and
wolves.
The lovers heard the jingling behind
slacken. Evidently the barking had
been heard by the pursuers. But it
was not long before the bells again
bespoke Rallop.
Its the count" said Peter. II know
him well. He would face certain death
rather than forego an act of tyrrany."
As they drew nearer the wolves the
barking not only grew louder. but
came from more threats. The moon
was near the full and lit the dark
bodies of the animals coming to meet
them. The horses. frightened, started
to turn, but Peter gave them the whip,
and they continued in their course.
Handing the whip to Sonia. he seized
a rife, and as they shot through a
dozen wolves one making a lodgment
on the sleigh was driven OF with the
iron barrel brought down on its head.
The next instant another springing at
Sonia received bullet in its breast be-
tween its fore legs and dropped dead.
This gave the pack two carcasses to
fight over and the fugitives brief res
pite.
Meanwhile the sounds of the ap-
preaching party behind them grew
nearer. Peter attributed the counts
pressing on. knowing that he was chas
ing pack OF wolves which would turn
upon his party and devour them, to his
mad desire to get possession Of Sonia
and send him and probably her to 81
IBERIA. In this he did the man injus-
tice Doubtless II he caught them
he would take his revenge, but he was
q brave man and ready to risk his own
k1e 70 save t0AC OF OtnerS.
As soon as the wolves had devoured
the two OF their number that had been
killed they came on again. 1t seemed
to the fugitives that Goals OF fire were
pursuing them, the eyes Of the beasts
aiming out brightly. Again they over
took the lovers, and again Peter fred
into the pack. But by this time. while
the double danger added to his des-
peration, his nerves were not 30 steady
as at frst he fred three shots before
he dropped wolf. Then he killed two
more.
Sonia laid on the whip, though it
was not necessary, and the lovers
drew away, while behind them they
could hear their pursuers approaching
the wolves. Then there was q crack
Ing Of rides, yelping OF wounded
animals. the cry Of horse, and the
sound Of bells ceased
''The brutes have saved u.s." said
Peter exultingly. '-rhey have downed
q horse"
The fugitives sped on, hearing again
and again the cracking Of rife till at
last either the firing ceased or passed
out of hearing
The count and two OF his servants
had not been az fortunate as those
they followed By the time they reach
ed the pack the number of wolves had
doubled They fought well. but one
Of the wolves sprang at a horses
throat and disabled him. Overwhelm-
ed. the three men. one after another
succumbed
And so it was that man who was
trying to recover a fugitive serf lost
his life and carried down with him the
lives of two other persons.
The lovers, being freed from their
pursuers, proceeded with elaboration.
The next evening they reached the
Swedish line. at the head Of the gulf
Of Bothnia, where they left their con
veyance at an unfrequented spot. on
the east side Of the Tornea river. and.
crossing. found themselves In Sweden.
From there they made their way to
Christiania and from thence to Amer.
lea Setting out toward the west, they
at last reached the new territory,
which is now the state Of North Da-
kota. where they found many Of their
countrymen and became prosperous
farmers and Peter one Of the principal