Year: 1877

In the year 1868, one colo w IN
ter's night, was on a visit to a
friend, in the northern part of
Maine, when it was proposed to go
out skating on the river, which ran
very near the house.


The night was clear and cloudless,
and the wind was extremely cold,
but it was just the kind of night
to enjoy oneself.


l was young and fearless, and a
good skater, and l started off, leav-
ing my friends to follow me.


As l went along close to the bank
of the river, l heard sound which
seemed to come from the ice be
meath my feet. 1t was low and
tremulous at first, but it ended in q
prolonged howl. Never before had
such a noise come to my ears.


Presently l heard the brushwood
on the shore crack, as though from
the tread of some animal, and on
looking around for the cause of the
noise, I saw several dark objects
moving along the bank of the river,
and keeping pace with me. I


By their short yells and great
speed, / knew at once that these
were the much-dreaded gray wolves.


The bushes that skirted the shore
seemed to rush past me with the Ve-
locity of lightning as dashed on,
hoping to pass them, as the wolves
tried to intercept me and cut me of,
but they soon fell behind, and |
turned toward home.


Every half minute a furious yelp
from the wolves convinced me that
they were still in close pursuit.


Nearer and nearer they came;
every nerve and muscle in my frame
was stretched to the utmost tension.
The trees along the shore seemed 70
fash past me, and my brain whirled
with the speed at which l was go.
ing. Yet still my pursuers seemed
to keep pace with me, every now
and then gaining little when an In
voluntary motion on my part turned
me off my course.


The wolves, which were close be-
hind, being unable to stop, and as
unable to turn on the smooth ice,
shipped and fell.


The thought flashed on my mind
that by this means l might avoid
them; that is, by turning aside
whenever they came too near, for,
owing to the formation of their feet
they are unable to run on ice except
in a straight line.


Immediately resolved to act up
on this plan, and after a long race
up stream, when the wolves were
close behind me, suddenly glided
round and dashed directly past
them.


A fierce yell greeted my evolution,
and the wolves slipping on their
launches, again sailed onward, pre-
senting a perfect picture of helpless
ness and haffled rage.


This was repeated two or three
times, every moment the animals De-
coming more and more excited and
savage.


Al one time, from my delaying
the turning too long, my parsuers
came so near that they actually
threw the white foam from their
laws over my clothes as they sprang
at me, and their teeth clashed to-
gether like the spring of a steel
trap.


Had my skates failed for an in
slant; had | tripped over a stick, or
had my foot caught in a 6ssure of
the ice, the story / am now telling
would never have been told.


But soon came opposite the house,
and my friends hounds, reused by
the noise, bayed furiously from their
kennels. heard their chains rat
tie, and wished they would break
them, for then l should have had
protectors able to cope with the
hercest denizens of the forest.


The wolves, taking the hint con-
veyed by the dogs, stopped IN their
mad career, and, after few mo-
ments, turned and fled.


| watched them until their forms
disappeared over distant bill; then
taking off my skates, ] wended my