Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-31
An Appalling
Moment
A Russian Soldier Meets
Something More to Be
Dreaded Than Battle
By ELINOR MARSH

Peter Nichialief was a soldier in the
Russian army, fighting with the troops
near Riga, which is in the northwest
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 If 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 in 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 1t away with him, but he was
SO attached to it that he could not
bear to part with 1t. He had named
1t for his wife and carved Sonia" on
the stock. So he carried it with him
on his journey home, also a 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
tinkling 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
fur robe and blanket, exposing the
rosy face Of boy a little over year
old.
"Our sonw asked Peter, his face
lighting with pleasure.
"Yes; he is our little Peter. 1 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 a
great Joy in the finding of the little
stranger whose coming Sonia had kept
from him for a 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 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 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 a wolf, and
they knew the danger.
If 1 had only left the child at
homer moaned 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 reins, 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 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
emily 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
rife to his shoulder.
When the ex-soldier had last aimed
that gun it was at line of Germans
crossing 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 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 to his own life he had be-
come used to risking that
Nevertheless he kept his nerve. He
remembered that he had only a dozen
cartridges and might have to repel
hundred wolves He had fought the
Germans when all his ammunition had