The daily Alaskan., 1917-06-13
An Appalling
 Moment
A Russian Soldier Meets Something. More tO Be
 GdodThGn Battle
By ELlNoR MARSH

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 Peter Nlchianef was 6 soldier in the Russian army, fighting with the troops near Riga, which is in the northwest ern part of the emplra Peter was wounded, having lest an eye tn battle and was discharged from ths service. So as soon as he was able to travel Do prepared to return to bis home tn tho 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 6 sleigh for ths 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 wtfo was very hard on both him and her. The chances were that he would either Dc killed in battle or de of disease oS be so mutilated as to be Q burden to him self if not to others, But now hO was on his way home, having lost only one of his eyes, while the other enabled him to keep in touch with the world.
 Peter would not have been allowed to keep his ride had the fact been known. Indeed, he should not have taken 1t away with him, but he was so attached to 1t that he could not bear to part with 1t. He had named it for his wife and carved ~soniR" on the stock. So he carried 1t with him on his Journey home, also q dozen rounds of ammunition.
 Peter reached little town about ten hours journey from his homo 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 tho tinkllng of bells up the road, and 6 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 tho rear part of the sleigh and lifted q fur robe and a blanket exposing the rosy face of a boy little over year old.
 "Our sonY' asked Peter, his face lighting with pleasure.
 "Yes; he is our little Peter. I have named him for his father"
 The chlld'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 a 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 mothers arms by the soft tinkle of the sleigh bells. The country was sparsely set tied, and for a 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 in the region.
 About 5 o'clock In the afternoon, when they were half a dozen versts from home, suddenly they heard q 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 I had only left the child at homew mosned Sonia.
 They at once made preparations for an attack from pack of wolves. Lit tie Peter was put in the basket and covered with robes. Sonia changed places with her husband, she taking the reina, while he took up his rife from the bottom of the sleigh and tn- serted a cartridge in the breach. Then he waited tn the back seat for con- test which he felt would very likely come.
 The barking continued and drew nearer. Judging from the volume, there must be quite large pack. Pres ently wolf was seen emerging from the wood beside the road. Sonia urged on the horse, and the wolf, left behind, followed at a gallop. Peter lifted his rifle to his shoulder.
 When the eI-soldier had last aimed that gun it was at q line of Germans crossing a field. Although a 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 a part of an army de- lending Russia; now he was alone and the lives of his dear wife and child were dependent upon him, and him alone. As to his own life. he had be- II come used tO riskiuR that