PURSUED BY WOLVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2531, 29 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

PURSUED BY WOLVES.

Li:t us once more hunt with the hunters and watch them as—their feet falling like the pattering rustle of rain—they eome on, one hnrtiini; ngtinst another. Their mouths are open, the hnir upon their bucks are beginning to stiffen and stand on end, their phosphorescent eyes are fixed upon the (lying sledge. A long stern chase it ha.s been, aud seems likely to meet with a grand reward, if all goes well. So yard by yard they get upon better terms with the vehicle. True the black horizon gradually changes into irregular outlines of a pine forest; true also, beneath the trees, gleams sparks of red and yellow fire thnt suggests human habitations ; but .Toksdnl is distant a miln yet, whereas three hundred yards alone separate wolves and men. Now a long pull, a strong pull, a pull all together, and then—supper ! Like the bellows of a forge sob the horses and need not the heavy whip, though that now and again hisses in the air over their heads. Great jets of steam bursts from their gaping nostrils, and they show the blood-shot whites of their eyes. Since Skein got upon the sledge not another word was spoken. Svantsen drives with magnificent nerve and judgment, keeping the horses steady and setting every inch out of them he can. If either comes flown, it must mean certain death for all. Skein sits crouched up at the back of the sledge with his face to the on-comiiiß multitude and a pistol in each hand. Nearer get the wolves and nearer. They are now going about twenty yards in a hundred quicker than their prey. The big sledge-rug manufactured from skins of "their defunct kindred, is thrown to them ; but what arc dead wolves' coats as an article of food compared with the shining sides of those galloping animals, now only fifty yards in front? It hardly stays them for a moment Graabeen No. 1 sees a stream of fire dart towards him, feels a terrible blow in the chest and falls, writhing, bleeding, and gnashing his teeth in the cold snow. Some amongst his companions stop to do last honours to their old leader, but more than half kept on. Skein shoots another, and hurling his pistols with tremendous force among them, breaks the leg of a third. Svantsen gives the horses their heads, and strikes at the long grey brutes now streaming upon either side. Here come the dogs at last fresh and full of fighting. Twenty are there if not more, all eager for a tussle with the universal enemy. They rush into the wolves, at the same moment one of the horses comes down with a crash, struggles upon his knees, shrieks, tries in vain°to rise, and rolls over, beaten, upon his side, The other, breaking his trace and lashing out, comes near braining his driver, but instead catches a wolf which has just jumped at Svantsen fair in the chest, and hurls him back five yards. Skein has wound his coat round his left arm and uses a knife with his right. The freed horse with a dozen wolves leaping at its head, runs straight into the rescuing party. Then torches gleam and men yell and fight hand-to-hand battles with gaunt, draggled brutes that snap at their throats, fill the air with a strong vulpine smell of their kind, and when a blow gets home, howl and kick out their lives in the reddening snow. It was a notable and terrific battle while it lasted and forms topic for conversation to this day in Joksdal. Half the dogs were killed, and more than one brave man who rushed to the rescue will carry deep tokens of the fight to his grave. Svantsen came worst off. His left arm was badly torn, and one bite in his throat must have been fatal had the brute who made it jumped a little stronger. Skein fought like a demon, and escaped marvellously, with scarce more than an ugly scratch or two. One horse died where it fell, the other escaped with its life, but was ruined for all practical purposes. Svautsen's wife however, looked to it that the excellent beast should live the remainder of his days in hononred idleness.—" The Wolves," by Eden Phillpotts, in Longman's Magazine.