Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-26
An Appalling
Moment
A Russian Soldier Meets
Something More to Be
Dreaded Than Battle
By ELINOR MARSH

s By EINOR MARSH
w~~>~~~~~~~>~~~>
Peter Nichialief was q soldier In tn
Russian army, fighting with the troop
near Riga, which II In the northwest
ern part Of the empire. Peter wa
wounded, having lost an eye In battle
and was discharged from the service
So as soon as he was able to travel b.
prepared to return to his home In tn
province Of vologda, not far from th'
Siberian line. He went by rail t.
Petrograd and there wrote his wife Il
meet him midway between the capita
and his home with sleigh for tn
rest Of his Journey.
Now, Peter had been married tw'
years before and soon after his mar
riage had marched away to the war
The parting with his young wife wa
very hard on both him and her. Th'
chances were that he would either b.
killed in battle or die Of disease or b.
80 mutilated as to be burden to him
self II not to others. But now he wa
on his way home, having lost only ont
Of his eyes, while the other enabled
him to keep in touch with. the world.
Peter would not have been allowed
to keep his rife had the fact beer
known. Indeed, he should not hav'
taken it away with him, but he wal
so attached to 1t that he could no
bear to part with 1t. He had namet
1t for his wife and carved Sonia" OF
the stock. So he carried 1t with hin
on his Journey home, also a dozei
rounds of ammunition.
Peter reached little town about tel
hours journey from his home In th'
morning, and his wife was to join hin
there in the afternoon. Every min
ute that he waited for her seemed al
hour. Just before sunset he heard th'
tinkling Of bells up the road, and
moment later a sleigh appeared driver
by Sonia. She pulled up before th'
inn where Peter was stopping. 81
jumped into the sleigh and embraced
her.
Then Sonia turned to basket In th'
rear part of the sleigh and lifted
fur robe and blanket, exposing th'
rosy face of a boy little over yea
old.
"Our sonY' asked Peter, his fac
lighting with pleasure.
Eyes; he is our little Peter. hav'
named him for his father"
The child's eyes opened, and seeing
mans smiling face bending over hin
he smiled back.
The next morning the sleigh wai
brouSAt up to the inn, Peter and hi
family got in and started for home
The wife sat on the back seat with hel
boy in her arms, while Peter took thu
reins. The sun shone bright on thu
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 thai
he had sustained, and there was
great Joy in the finding Of the little
stranger whose coming Sonia had KEEP
from him for surprise.
The reunited family logged along, th'
child lulled to sleep in his mother
arms by the soft tinkle Of the Sleigh
bells. The country was sparsely set
tied, and for q large part Of the dis
tance the way led through dense for
ests. But Peter and his wife were
used to that, having always lived II
the region.
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon
when they were half dozen verst!
from home, suddenly they heard a dis
tant bark. Peter turned and looked
his wife In the face, from which th'
color had receded. Both knew tn
sound too well as that Of wolf, ant
they knew the danger.
"If had only left the child a
homew moaned Sonia.
They at once made preparations TO
an attack from pack Of wolves. Lit
tie Peter was put in the basket ant
covered with robes. Sonia changed
places with her husband, she taking
the reins, while he took up his riff
from the bottom Of the sleigh and IN
serted cartridge in the breach. Thel
he waited In the back seat for a con
test which he felt would very ikel!
come.
The barking continued and drew
nearer. Judging from the volume
there must be quite large pack. Pres
emily a wolf was seen emerging from
| the wood beside the road. Sonia urget
on the horse, and the wolf, left behind
followed at q gallop. Peter lifted hi
rifle to his shoulder.
When the ex-soldier had last aimee
that gun it was at line OF German
crossing a field. Although a well arm
| ed human enemy was advancing upol
| him and his comrades, he did not Tee
the fear that oppressed him now
| Then he was a part Of an army de
tending Russia; now he was alone an
| the lives of his dear wife and chill
were dependent upon him, and hin
| alone. AS to his own life he had be
come used to risking that.
Nevertheless he kept his nerve. b
remembered that he had only a dozel
cartridges and might have to repel
| hundred wolves. He had fought tn
| Germans when all his ammunition ha
been exhausted and knew the helpless
ness of one so situated. If he groun
his teeth then, what would be his fee
ings should his dozen shots be exhaust
ed now before he could drive on tn
wolves or reach home?
Peter was by no means ignorant Q
defensive warfare against wolves. 81
reserved his fire, while the brute 10
lowed in his wake, and when 1t aI
preached too closely Sonia whipped q
the horse and gained little on !
Meanwhile wolves were pouring frol
the woods into the road behind tt
sleigh. They were yelping and snar
Ing and tumbling 6ver one anothe
but always keeping their fierce eyes
i the object containing what would q
/ pease their hunger, for 1t was near Il
end of long winter, and they wei
famished.
Finally the pack, now united, pres
ed so closely upon the sleigh that T
ter felt 1t necessary to kill the leade
knowing that there would be scrar
i BILE for his dead body, which would o