Year: 1869

several times beneath him, and all at
once fiercer jerk than usual, accom-
panied by neigh Of terror; effectually
aroused him, and he sat bolt upright
and looked around He looked in front;
all wore its wonted appearance, q wild
struggling piece of wood, standing two
feet deep in the snow the narrow track
twisting through it; the heavens cold
and clear, the earth white: but close be
hind the sled were three gaunt animals,
cantering heavily, while fourth was fast
gaining ground.


The jaws Of the leading wolf, owing
10 the lowness Of the sled, were within
reach of Heinrich shoulders But the
latter cared little for this. The brutes
were alter the mare, and upon courage
aud fortituie depended the escape of
horse and master.


If the alarmed creature could have
the nerve to keep onward in the ira elk
she had a good chance to elude her pur
surers 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,
Kaupinan knew that all was up with
them. Such a proceeding would Olsen
tange her from the sled, and before she
could founder dozen yards through the
snow the wolves would be tearing her TO
shreds.


Heinrich leaned forward and spoke
kindly to his animal, which raised her
esrs, that were fat with terror, and fell
into a more even pace. He then turned
and brandished his keen-edged Ratchet,
and shouted to the brutes, but it did not
discomfit them in the least.


Reaching forward he patted his mare
with the hand that held the re;ns, while
he held the hatchet in the other, and
kept his eyes upon the ferocious 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 q consequence, there was less
probability of the terror becoming un
and her breaking aside from
the path.


So long as matters retained their rel
atiye position, Heinrich felt that all was
going we'll.


1t was not long before the wolves dis
covered that there was little prospect of
success so long as they remained in the



aside and attempting to get abreast of
the horse. In every instance they fell
behind each effort revealed them to the
terrified mare, that had no binders, and
the furious l,iunges she made filled
H enrich with the greatest anxiety.


One of the wolves was very large,
superior to the rest More than once
I. ~, L.,
advanced nearer abreast of the horse
than did the others. Upon this gaunt
creature Heinrich fixed his eye, and
caught the green light which played
from his eyelids.


By and by the snow became latter,
and the huge wolf sprang aside. The
speed OF these animals is extraordinary.
and he gained rapidly. Heinrich waited
until he got just abreast, when, rising to
his seat, he circled the llatchet over his
head, and brought il down with the
quickness of lightning. The head was
cleft in twain, and with a dying yeip.
he doubled over in the snow. and was
quickly left behind.


One of the dreaded animals was dis
patched; there was three left as furious
for blood rs him. and these never aba'ed
their speed in the least Had they got
a taste of their companion they would
have gor2ed themselves on him before
seeking for the horse, bat lie whisked
off life SO suddenly that they scarcely
noticed his absence.


The distance from home was rapidly
beneath the quick steps 0.
his mare, which continued to carry the
sled at full speed until the fear Of over
turning became again q source OF anx
ie:T Hensich, too, had learned by this
time, that these were no ordinary ami
mails with which he had to deal, but
sharp set, courageous and determined
brutes, to which man or beast would be
alike welcome, their preference, howev-
er, as manifested by their actions. bein.,
for horse flesh


These were not the animals to be
frightened away by the sight OF NON S
house, and there was Il lar4e open space
between the outskirts of the forest and
ii icnrich's home, to which he looked with
no little apprehension.


They had now approach ! t..o veey
edge Of the wood. and the wolves began
gaining Oh eacI, side. The terror stTick
en- horse became uncomfortable, and
bounding terrifcally forward caught the
sled against the stump OF tree, over
turned it, and galloped away at o full
run, leaving Heinrich alone in the snow.


Before he could rise he felt the brutes
clawing at his throat, but his garments
were so thick that he was saved from in
jury and rising to his feet threw them
off. His hatchct had been jerked from
his handns be fell and he looked desper-
ately around for it, but it was not be
found.


BY this time the mare was almost out
of sight, and two of the wolves were up
on the defenseless man, and the othet,
deserting the animal, bounded back.
Heinrich faced the foremost, and the
next moment was surrounded.


The powerful man now called into
play all the strength for which was so
He struck furiously at the
leaping, snarling brutes, and flung them
off when they attempted to cling to him.