The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-29
An Appalling
Moment
A Russian Soldier Meets
Something More to Be
Dreaded Than Battle
BY ELINOR MARSH

ern part of the empire. Peter was
wounded, having lost an eye In battle,
and was discharged from the service.
So as soon as he was able to travel he
prepared to return to his home In the
province of Vologda, not far from the
Siberian line. He went by rail to
Petrograd and there wrote his wife to
meet him midway between the capital
and his home with a sleigh for the
rest Of his journey.
Now, Peter had been married two
years before and soon after his mar
riage had marched away to the war.
The parting with his young wife was
very hard on both him and her. The
chances were that he would either be
killed in battle or die Of disease or be
so mutilated as to be burden to him
self IL not to others. But now he was
on his way home, having lost only one
of his eyes. while the other enabled
him to keep I'm touch with the world.
Peter would not have been allowed
to keep his rifle had the fact been
known. Indeed, he should not have
taken It away with him. but he was
80 attached to 1t that he could not
bear to part with It He had named
II for his wife and carved sonia" on
the stock. SO he carried 1t with him
on his journey home, also dozen
rounds of ammunition.
Peter reached little town about ten
hours journey from his home in the
morning, and his wife was to join him
there In the afternoon. Every min
ute that he waited for her seemed an
hour. Just before sunset he heard the
tinkllng of bells up the road, and
moment later a sleigh appeared driven
by Sonia. She pulled up before the
inn where Peter was stopping. He
jumped into the sleigh and embraced
her.
Then Sonia turned to basket in the
rear part of the sleigh and lifted a
fur robe and a blanket, exposing the
rosy face of boy little over year
old.
"Our sonW asked Peter, his face
lighting with pleasure.
"Yes; he is our little Peter. l have
named him for his father"
The child's eyes opened and seeing
a mans smiling face bending over him
he smiled back.
The next morning the sleigh was
brought up to the inn, Peter and his
family got in and started for home.
The wife sat on the back seat with her
boy in her arms, while Peter took the
reins. The sun shone bright ON the
snow, but the air was cool and crisp.
AS Peter drove along his heart was
full Of gratitude that he had returned
to his wife with no greater loss than
he had sustained, and there was
great joy In the finding Of the little
stranger whose coming Sonia had kept
from him for surprise.
The reunited family logged along the
child lulled to sleep in his m0ther's
arms by the soft tlnlile Of the sleigh
bells, The country was sparsely set
tied, and for n large part of the dis
tance the way led through dense for
ests. But Peter and his wife We're
used to that, having always lived in
the region.
About o'clock in the afternoon,
when they We're half dozen versts
from home, suddenly they heard dis
tant bark Peter turned and looked
his wife in the face, from which the
color had receded. Both knew the
sound too well as that of WOLF and
they knew the danger.
"If | had only left the child at
homer mOancd Sonia.
They at once made preparations. for
an attack from IL pack of wolves. Lit.
tie Peter was put In the basket and
covered with robes. Sonia changed
places with her husband, she taking
the relus, while he took up his rifle
from the bottom of the sleigh and In
serted cartridge in the breach. Then
he waited In the back seat for II con
test which he felt would very likely
come.
The barking continued and drew
nearer. Judging from the volume,
! there must be quite n large pack. Pres
emily wolf was seen emerging from
the wood beside the road, Sonia urged
on the horse, and the wolf, left behind,
followed at II gallop. Peter lifted his
rifle 10 his shoulder.
When the eN-soldicr had last aimed
that gun 1t was at line OF Germans
crossing field. Although well arm
ed human enemy was advancing upon
| him and his comrades, he did not feel
\ the fear that oppressed him now.
| Then he was part of an army de
| Tending Russia; now he was alone and
| the lives OF his dear wife and child
Were dependent upon him, and him
! alone, As 20 his own life he had be
come used 10 risking that.
Nevertheless he kept his nerve. He
remembered that he had only dozen
| cartridges and might have TO rcpel "A
hundred wolves. He had fought the
Germans when all his ammunition had
been exhausted and knew the helpless
hess of one so situated. If he ground
is teeth then, what would be his feel
! ngs should his dozen shots be exhaust
cd now before he could drive OFF the
wolves or reach home?
Peter was by no means ignorant of
defensive warfare against wolves. He