Year: 1875

wolves had been shot, and devoured by
their comrades, it seemed that the taste
of blood had only fired the appetite, oi
the rest of the pack, the numbers Of
which had increased constantly until
more than a hundred and fifty were now
ihowling after the sleigh.


As the count had said, they were
drawing very near now, and the guns
were rapidly emptied into their ranks
Each drew. his revolver for close action,
the gentlemen taking q revolver in each
hand, and Ivan. the driver tulkiax -
I reins in his left, cooked his revolver with
the right hand, just in time. Fifty open
mouths were beside the sleigh on eth
er side. and hundred behind!


Now, altogether said the count; let
'em have it. right and left


Ivan, who was perfectly cool, fired his
six charges with deliberate though ra-
pid aim, dropping a half dozen of the
wolves, while the count with both hands
fired down their throats on his side, and
the Englishman, though with less cool
ness, vet with equal effect, shot down
the ravenous beasts on his side. More
than dozen of them rolled over in the
snow, while the rapid discharges of the
revolvers nearly together, started the
horses to fresh exertion and they separ-
ated from the wolves, who paused to
! devour these bodies bleeding upon the
snow.


| This delay among the pursuing beasts,
who fought wildly over The bodies which
they So quickly tore to pieces, gave the
| party III the sleigh a breathing moment,
though a brief one. The time was i'm
proved to reload all the revolvers and
the guns, while the horses were eased a
little in their rapid gait in order to save
! their strength for crisis which was
! doubtless to follow. 1t was still four
miles at least to the shelter of his own
! grounds, rs the count was compelled to
admit. Whether they could keep the
ferocions creatures at bay long enough
to traverse that distance was n problem.
| The pack now turned again topursue
the sleigh.


Thank heaven for this respite, short
as it is said the Count Skarinski, draw
ing long breath, and disposing the
guns for ready use, now al reloaded.
The Young Englishnan said little
He had felt the hot breaths of those
wild creatures in his very face, and the
frigitful situation was something ap-
palling. However, he braccd himself to
do his best in fighting TIE terrible enc
my; y. who 7.,'.,. were drawing sna'and'l's'''
Once more the count and his COM
panion began to drop the wolves two at
n time. So dense were their numbers
that every shot told, but notwithstand-
ing these brief checks they We're gain
ing on the sleigh, their numbers III 10
Icrcrptihle degree lessened, though SO
many had been killed. Indeed, more
now joined them, coming from a piece
of wood which they were just passing.
The horses labored painfully They
had been terribly tried by the long and
continuous drag upon their strength.


Our revolvers once more said tie
count. rs be emptied the last loaded gua
into the savage enemy. 1t is to be close
action again. Get ready your revolver,
Ivan


1t is all right, count was the reply.
Lay your knife loose said the count
to his companion, it may come to that"


On came that legion Of howling dew
lis, their eyes garing in the dim light,
and once more they were upon the
sleigh.


Blaze away together said the count
And rs before, wolf after wolf rolled
I over bleeding upon the white snow crust,
bat blood seemed only to madden the
army of raveBous beasts crowding for
ward, and now the count having emp
tied his two revolvers, took lis long
knife and slashed left and right, giving
death wounds At every stroke, to the
wolves that crowded one upon another,
until he had almost lost his breath
But such hecatomb of slaughtered
creatures lay all around that the whole
pack were checked. while TIE sleigh,
dragged slowly " on by the dropping hor-
ses. crept away from them. The count
had only been saved from the teeth Of
those on his side by the thickness of
his fur clothing. while tLe Englishman
had only used the revolyers. two extra
ones OF which he managed to get from
the rack in the bottom of the sleigh.
He came to his coolness and courage
at last. and fired with precision each
time down the nearest gaping throat,
and every time dropping the enemy.
They had only time to load the guns
before the bowling pack started for
them again, the count, with the cool
ness of a veteran, shooting them down
one after another. They were still two
miles from home.


Ivan?'


Yes, count


The horses are doing al they can 2
Yes, count


Give me the reins. Jump out ard
cut loose the leader, Put a bullet
through his brains and get back quick,
man-9uiek, say


The intelligent driver did as he was
bid. The horse died instantly. The
driver was back in his seatand the sleigh
was moving ho,nsward again. The
count now turred once more and emp
tied gun after gun among the crowd
that stopped about the horse, while the
4 Englishman reloaded


Good : said the count; another mile
and we are safe


But the horses could hardly move fas-
ter than n smart walk, now and then
trotting for few rods. They were
completely used up. The arms were
once more al loaded, and one BY one,
then BY two, At last al together, the