Year: 1868

The jaws of the leading wolf, owing to
the lowness of the sled, were within reach
of Heinrich's shoulders. But the latter car
ed little for this. The brutes were after the
mare, and upon courage and fortitude de-
pended the escape of horse and master.


If the alarmed creature could have the
the nerve to keeponward in the track she
had a good chance of eluding her pnrsuers;
for the moment the wolves sprang outside
to pass the sleigh, the snow so diminished
their speed that they fell behind.


But should the mare, In her terror, spring
aside and plunge into the snow, Kaupman
knew all was up with them. Such pro
ceeding would disentangle her from the sled
and before she could founder dozen yards
through the snow the wolves would be tear
ing her to shreds.


Reaching forward he patted his mare
with his hand that held the reins, while he
held the hatchet in the other and kept his
eye upon the precious brutes. However, he
did not use the weapon, for the closer the
wolves kept to the sled the less they were
seen by the horse, and, as a consequence,
there was less probability of the terror be-
coming uncomfortable, and her breaking
aside from the path.


1t was not long before the wolves discOv-
cred that there was little prospect of success
so long as they remained in the track, and
they now began springing aside and attempt
| ing to get abreast of the horse. In every
instance they fell behind; each effort re-
vealed them to the terrified mare, and the
furious plunges she made filed Heinrich
with the greatest anxiety.


One of the wolves wasivery large, straight
limbed, and showed a speed superior to the
rest. More than once when he sprung out
into the snow, he advanced nearer abreast
of the horse than did the others. Upon
this gaunt creature Heinrich fixed his eye,
and caught the green light that played from
his eyelids.


By-and-by the snow became hatter, and
the huge wolf sprang aside. The speed of
these animals is extraordinary, and he gain
ed rapidly. Heinrich waited until he got
just abreast, when, rising to his seat he cir
cled the hatchet over his head, and brought
it down with the quickness of lightning. The
head was cleft in twain, and with dying
yelp, he doubled over in the snow and was
quickly left behind.


One of the dreaded animals was dispatch
ed, there were three left as furious for blood
as him, and these never abated their speed
| in, ha laaSt Had 4ba1r o,oF q +ocfa of
companion, they would have gorged them
selves on HIM before seeking the horse, but
he whisked eff the stage of life SO suddenly
that they scarcely noticed his absence.


The distance from home was rapidly di,
minishing beneath the quick steps of his
mare, which continued to carry the sled a
full speed until the fear of oVerturning be-
came again source of anxiety. Heinrich,
too, had learned by this time, that these
were no ordinary animals with which hC
had to deal, but sharp set, courageous, an(
determined brutes, to which man or beas
would be alike welcome, their preference
however, as manifested by their actions, be
ing for horse-fesh.


They had now approached the very edgt
of the wood, and the wolves began gaining OF
each side. The terror-stricken horse bt
came uncomfortable, and bounding terrifcal
ly forward, caught the sled against thu
stump of tree, overturned it, and gallope(
away at full run, leaving Heinrich alone
in the snow.


Before he could rise, he felt the brute
clawing at his throat, but his garments wer'
SO thick that he was saved from injury; ant
rising to his feet threw lhem off. His hatch
had been jerked from his hand as he fell
and he looked desperately around for it, bu
it was not to be found.


By this time the mare was almost out O.
sight, and two of the wolves were upon tn
defenseless man and the other, deserting tn
animal bounded back. Heinrich faced tn
foremost and the next moment was sur
rounded.


The powerful man now called into pla,
all the strength for which he was so renoWn
ed. He struck furiously at the leaping
snarling brutes, and flung them off whel
they attempted to cling to him. Had he ,
weapon, even club, it is not impossible
that he might have saved himself. A blow,
with club in his hand, would have crack
ed the skull of the largest brute, and with {
knife he would have riped them open.


But there was no hope fighting with hi
naked hand. His blood had already dyet
the snow, and the smell and taste of it haC
made the brutes ferocious. Their little
heavy bodies were hurled against him, as i
impelled by some power not their own, anC
finally pulled him down.


Then those foul, lurid eyes glared oYel
him; the tightening of the throat followed
and thinking was finished. Still he strug
gled to release his arms-the grasp on his
throat was choking him; his senses reeled;
when, like the whlzzing of a meteor, anoth-
er hard breathing animal shot in among the
assailants and fastened itself on the chief.


The wolves for an instant relaxed theiI
fury; Heinrich reeled giddy to his feet and
recognized his brave dog. For moment
he stood bewildered, when he saw one wolf
IeuSdlinSS dnu INC OlueT TWO dlI4cknS uls
dauntless dog. He turned to help him and
bright object caught his eye; it was his
hatchet lying in the snow, within an arms
length of his last terrible struggle, Helm
rich snatohed it up, and he was himself
again.


His arms were bleeding, but the giant
strength remained. The next instant he had
split the skull of one of the wolves, and he
now turned like mad man that he was
upon the fierce animal that had borne his
faithful dog to the ground.


The first blow laid bare the gaunt back
bone; the next his throat, terrible cash,
and the third loosened his fearful grip upon
the dog. Still he struggled fercely when
/ III, ~,