The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-06-19

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
lance the way led through dense for
ests. But Peter and his wife were
used to that, having always lived in
the region
About 8 o'clock In the afternoon,
when they were 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 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 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. BE
remembered that he had only dozen
cartridges and might have to repel q
hundred wolves. He had fought the
Germans when all his ammunition had
been exhausted and knew the helpless
ness of one so situated If he ground
his teeth then, what would be his feel
ings should his dozen shots be exhaust
ed now before he could drive Off the
wolves or reach homer
Peter was by no means ignorant Of
defensive warfare against wolves. He
reserved his fire, while the brute fol
lowed in Ids wake, and when it ap-
preached too closely Sonia whipped up
the horse and gained little on 1t.
Meanwhile wolves were pouring from
the woods into the road behind the
sleigh. They were yelping and snarl-
ing and tumbling over one another,
but always keeping their fierce eyes on
the object containing what would APP
pease their hunger, for it was near the
end of long winter. and they were
famished.
Finally the pack, now united, press
ed so closely upon the sleigh that Pc
ter felt it necessary to kill the, leader,
knowing that there would be scram-
bic for his dead body, which would oc-
casion some delay. Peter was good
shot and put a bullet between the eyes
of the foremost wolf The beast drop
ped dead, and, as Peter had expected,
many of the brutes pounced upon the
body and fought for it. But there
were so many in the pack that num-
Der that could not get near the carcass
followed on.
A wolf emerged from the wood in
advance and made a spring for the
horse, which was going at a gallop.
Sonia had brought a revolver with
her. Its chambers being loaded, she
took the reins in her left hand and,
drawing the weapon with her right,
fired, and the wolf, releasing it's
clutch on the horse, rolled down into
the road. His carcass took Off num-
Der of the wolves following.
The yelping and the shots awakened
little Peter, who threw off the cover
ing from his face and, realizing that
SOAICtAAhS was WEOiiEt duOSQ LIS own
tiny voice to the din. But neither his
father nor his mother could spare any
time to attend to him, for the former
was now forced by the pressing wolves
to fire more rapidly, while the latter
was emptying the chambers of her re-
volver upon those that were appearing
in the road in front Of the sleigh.
Though Peter husbanded his shots
as best he could, all were gone at last.
Some of the wolves had been killed
by him, some had Jagged behind, and
some had dropped out of the chase al
together There were now only half
dozen wolves in pursuit, but they
were the largest, the strongest and the
fercest Of the pack The leader made
spring for Peter, who Drained 1t
with the barrel of his rifle. But in
doing so the weapon slipped out of Pc
ter's hand and fell In the road.
While the body of the wolf he had
killed was being devoured Peter turn
ed to his wife, put his arms about her
and kissed her.
"Goodby, sweetheart" he said.
what are you going to DOR
1.-THE wolves must have another VIC