THE WOLF CHASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 586, 6 April 1870, Page 3

THE WOLF CHASE.

The narrator of this story is a man, whose log-house stood on the banks of the River Kennebech, which flowed past the door. He was very fond of skating, and one winter's night he left his house to skate for a short distance up the frozen river. It was a bright still evening ; the new moon silvered the frosty pines. After gliding a couple of miles up the river, the skater turned off into a little tributary stream, over which fir and hemlock twined their evergreen branches. The archway beneath was dark, bufc he fearlessly entered ifc, unsuspicious of peril, with a joyous laugh and hurrah— an involuntary expression of exhilaration, elicited by the bracing crispness of the atmosphere, and glow of pleasant exercise. What followed is very exciting : — " All of a sudden, a sound arose; it seemed from the very ice beneath my feet. It was loud and tremendous at first, until ifc ended iv one long yell. I was appalled. Never before had such a noise met my ears. I thought it more than mortal -so fierce, and amid such unbroken solitude, that ifc seemed as if a fiend from hell had blown a blast from an infernal trumpet. Presently I heard the twigs on the shore snap as if from the tread of some animal, and the blood rushed back to my forehead with a bound that made my skin burn. My energies returned, and I looked around me for some means of defence. The moon shone through the opening by which I had entered the forest, and, considering this the best means of escape, I darted towards it like an arrow.. It was hardly a hundred yards distant, and the swallow could scarcely outstrip my desperate flight ; yet, as I turned my eyes to the shore, I could see two dark objects dashing through the underbrush afc a pace nearly double mine. By their great speed, and the short yells which they occasionally gave, I knew at once they were the much dreaded gray wolf. The bushes that skirted the shore flew past with the velocity of light, as I dashed on in my flight. The outlet was nearly gained ; one second more and I should be comparatively safe — when my pursuers appeared on the bank directly above me, which rose to the height of some ten feet. There was no time for thought ; I bent my head, and dashed wildly forward. The wolves sprang; but, miscalculating my speed, sprang behind, whilst their intended prey glided out into the river. Na; ure turned me towards my home. The light flakes of snow spun from the iron of ray skates, and I was now some distance from my I pursuers, when their fierce howl told me that I was again the fugitive. I did not look back; I did not feel sorry or glad; one thought of home, of the bright faces awaiting my return, of their tears if they should never see me again, and . then my energy of body and mind was exerted for my escape. I was perfectly at home on the ice. Many were the days I spent on the skates, never thinking that at one time they would be my only means of safety. Every half-minute an alternate yelp from my pursuers made me but too certain they were close at my heels. Nearer and nearer they came; I heard their feet pattering, on the ice nearer still, until I fancied I could hear their deep breathing. Every nerve and muscle in my frame was stretched to the utmost tension. The trees along the shore seemed to dance in the uncertain light; and my brain turned with my own breathless speed, when an involuntary motion turned me oufc of my course. The wolves close behind, unable to stop, and as unable to turn, slipped, fell -still going on far ahead, their tongues lolling out, tbeir dark white tusks gleaming from their mouths, their dark shaggy breasts freckled with foam; and, as they passed me, their eyes ; glared, and they howled with rage and fury. j The thought flashed on my mind, that by this means I could avoid them -namely, by I turning aside whenever they came too near;

for they, by the formation of their feet, are unable, to. 'run on the. ice ..except in a right line. I immediately acted on this plan. The wolves, having regained their feet, sprang directly towards me. The race was renewed for twenty yards up the stream; they were already close on my back, when I glided v round, and dashed past them. A fierce howl greeted my evolution, and the wolves slipped upon their haunches, and sailed onward, presenting a perfect picture of helplessness and baffled rage. Thus I gained nearly a hundred yards each turning. This was repeated two or three times, every moment the wolves getting more excited and bafi_ed, until, coming, opposite the house, a couple of staghounds, aroused by the noise, bayed furiously from their kennels. The wolves, taking the hint, stopped in their mad career; and after a moment's consideration, turned and fled. I watched them till their dusky forms disappeared over a neighbouring hill; then, taking off my skates, I wended my way to the house."