. St. Nicholas [serial]. away into the brush. Amoment after I heard him howling a few rods inthe rear. To my inexpressible horror, the howlwas quickly answered by another, and then an-other, and still another, until to my terrifiedears the woods seemed full of the ferociousbeasts. There was no need of telling me what thismeant. I was old enough and familiar enoughwith wolf-nature to know that the first wolf wascalling to his mates to come and help him rundown and kill his quarry. For a moment I stood still in my tracks, lis-tening in trembling horror to the hideous howl-ings; then I gathered m
. St. Nicholas [serial]. away into the brush. Amoment after I heard him howling a few rods inthe rear. To my inexpressible horror, the howlwas quickly answered by another, and then an-other, and still another, until to my terrifiedears the woods seemed full of the ferociousbeasts. There was no need of telling me what thismeant. I was old enough and familiar enoughwith wolf-nature to know that the first wolf wascalling to his mates to come and help him rundown and kill his quarry. For a moment I stood still in my tracks, lis-tening in trembling horror to the hideous howl-ings; then I gathered myself together and lent me wings. My feet seemed hardlyto touch the snow. And yet it was but a minutebefore I heard the rapid pit-pat of the feet ofthe wolves on the hard crust of the snow be-hind me, and knew that they were drawingnear. I reached the edge of the woods ; and,as I dashed into the opening, I cast a hurriedglance to the rear. Several great, gaunt wolves,running neck and neck, were not five rods be-. FINALLY I HEARD A CRASH, AND GLANCING BACK I SAW A STRUGGLINGJUMBLE OF HEADS AND PAWS. (See page 390.) 39Q MOTHER S WOLF STORY. hind me. They ran with their heads out-stretched, making great bounds over the hardsnow. At that time I was tall for my age, andcould run like a deer. The sight of the wolves,so close behind me, caused me to redouble myefforts; but, in spite of my speed, as I reachedthe brow of the hill I could hear their pantingbreaths, so near had they come. With a quickmovement of my hands I threw off my heavycloth cape and woolen hood. At the same in-stant my eyes caught sight of the sled, which Ihad left at the top of the hill. Fortunately itwas standing facing the steep incline. If I couldreach it before the wolves caught me, possiblyI might yet escape! My hood and cape de-layed the animals for an instant; but they wereagain upon me just as I, without slacking myspeed in the least, caught the sled up into myhands and threw myself upon it. I thin
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