HASZAIIIYS (iAZE'l"I‘E,

SE P'l‘EM BE It 27.

WE 1-‘LY fly N1(,‘,H'[‘_ our horses, the srvngth of which was beginning to give wav. Awful, horrible sounds broke through

we wd‘,P"|y “uh” from home “I. ime"i_ the stillness of the night. -rhcy seemed to be

gesce hill! my father Iiad been taken seriously ill, 151.. '.'.i..'iZfi',°'.3§‘.' .'..‘T.'.'.3'..'.'.'.“.t'.'.'. ?i'é‘i’i','," ..»'§l".'.'.'.; ‘gal: ‘l"[’:'Bl'l “ft ‘xii “'0 °I3"Wd "I" ‘'‘’''V 53": tititliittg could arouse her from the thoughts of few 5“. gzfirg '3 I-l_‘:l""';":‘ “H? l"dd":_""k°' ‘. htime which engaged her so deeply. lvv_as tint ' , d _ ’ N "N" ' '." '.'°" I3 1'" able howeur, tiiucli Ionizer to leste her in that "11"" ‘M ' """ ”'°. '“""" (‘ll "' ""°l‘ fl“l“" happy uiiinntsciniisriess of the danger which theat- I; the weather was ptercingly cold. My ‘cit-\'|*~'l." eneii us. Icould already distinguish the separate admit my father Iclt lllt.’ no real, and Axinia Inng- “nu” of ",0 “gel, monwm; ‘mud’ “Hm fiedeallwallx 'l° bl.’ “‘ l'"”'°' "ml l’°’."“’ ""3 "ck had burst forwrad, out of the mass, and were d. V e‘ e ermined in travel the lllgllyllllftlufll, “ml,” gunqhm 0,-um, ‘,eiRh_ ymud my gun‘ ‘n M’ wet“-"'9. bell?’ °"‘l"”d "’ ll" l""v " ‘"' cocked it, and aimed at the foremost ofthe cres- wam‘ "°'""2 ", l'"",'l-5 ‘’‘’'“'‘l I" .'""‘"t " tures. ‘Stoop down !’criedIto Axinia, who "l"'°'"‘l 3 '"""'.‘l'“l" "_'*'l"t “'’‘l W’ ‘l""°'i"“5l“" had started up, as if frightened out of a dream. atnirhtls “\:‘ll“;""','J:l ‘:"‘"(;' ‘A"I:0":'i‘k] l:’°0“1:i":’n;‘l‘:'l'l she looked at tne iiiquiriiigly, but it was evident t , ’ ' . ' our joiirtiey. lief-ire the night catne on, we h' reticlittl tlte spreading forest which separated us froiii our native hoiiie. tin-l ~.vlt~i_-h strett-lies away in the distance towards Islllitlalllll, there to unite itpclf with the bound css forests of that country. Ill-‘ mail vt-- travelh-il was wide enough to re- ceive, witltuui liiiidia-it-.-, the coiviplt-te light of the toll iiimiti ; hut llie: frwt toot ltitl 'lt laces in it which h.td llt:t'tI caused 1-ylthc altar: lriist follow- trig iitiiriedtately upon ihc thaw, cliectted our progress, and coat Our liorst s tltr! ureatcst »-xeiti- n A petlect stillness fL‘IglII‘(I around its, \\lilCII was broken only by the trotiin-_- ot the litirsen. and the Iieivy breathing oftlte l.itly’s maid, an oil l“rein-.h woinan, who had tltlleit asleep. My 'IlI||IL'lll6 were by the bed of in sick father. and t.t-.iilier Axinia nor IIIVVBPIII Irlly inclined to talk. It vtzn-i just an hour before tiitditt-_-ht. and nothing partic- ular had ltappi-in-tl on our lonely way; siidtlr-nly the lIIi|~'€s \VllltlII drcw our sleigh began to s‘iciv an uii-istial kind of |ltlr'lI:IIIC‘S : they atiorted aiitl chaleil and tvitho-it being urged by the wlit _ ‘hp, g’,,|t,,,,e,g {a,,,., and ,a,,e,._ "1-My wflpé tect composure, and exliortetl lter to Join in x,,,,.,._., w., gm; hut ,',,, ge,,,,,.,| yeug‘ ‘my c,,,,|d prayer to lltin vilioae will could iiistunttitieous‘y be ,,,,g,,,,,.,; ,,, 3,, ,,,,t ,,f,,,,,,, “Eu” hp,.,,d ‘ml’, by tame the Wild beast of the desert’. Mic ll-'|lII(.(ttI sonic very extr.nirdinai_v cstise. They Ipllflisfed IN‘! Ettees lti‘llie bottom oftlie sleigh. iirid beside anxious and tearful, and often turned their y,,.,d,E her the lady s iii:ii~l ; but the latter was not capo.

bled sometimes a gtontinp, noise, and sometime‘! the painful, hollow, but yet partly repressed )t'ltl of one in agony. Axinis still suspected nothing:

friim rn_v actions that this was no time for ques- tions. She instantly lient down her hand and sliotilder ; my gun went ofl‘, aiiil the foretnot-t and larg-at of the animals fell to the earth. l\Iy shot had naked the lady’s-inaid, and she began to $CI'e.sllI, thiiilriiig we were attacked by robbers.

‘II is only the wolves,‘ said Rosko, with aston- ishing c()_t)llIt'B8. ‘We are rid of one ; but a hundred others will be our faitlifiit coitiptittions utitil'——— e sai no more, for he did not wish the tcinales to hear the worst. In the meantime, the lit-rses, startled by the report of the gun, d.irto=d forward with renewed vigour, whilst the taulvvs made a stop to giitlicr round the dead body of their cotnpaiiiiin.

‘It will not last long,‘ niuriniircd IIWBICO to liiiiiself. ‘I know them ; they will soon be close behind us again; and their pcrseveiaiice will put the best horse to sltitiiie.’

I non hail an opptirtunity of seeing how great was Axiriia's strength of niitid. She spoke words of comfort to the weepirig lady’: maid witlt per-

in G.

,-,,,,..-j H, 1 ,.,k ,,,,ck_ ._,,,,g ,3,“ ,, ,,|“.“. ,,,.,.,,,,,,g M ble of collecting her tlinttaltts to pray, and site if 5,, .9 ,,..'i,,.,,,,»,, ,,..w,,,. ,,,,p..”e,y ,;,,,m ,,, ,,.,,,.,,,,.d 1 irave way I0‘CtillIIllI.l3I latiieiiiatiotis and to repeat- exerttotis. I"rttin iliosc aitddeii (II-lt‘~IIlll2t' ftivwttrtl. ”d ‘l""""“"'"""" "I Ill” .l‘""””Y l"e”' “Y ""5 their pice soon luec...,,,, 5,, MM and ,,,.,,g,,|a,_ time I had reloaded ttiy rifle, and it lay against um |{,,,;,., w,,,, ,,.,,,g,,., H, U,” S,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,J,,,, ; ,0 my shoulder in a state of readiness; whilst the this they gave \\.II._ it is Hue, rm, ,,,,, “,,|,,,,,, horses were doing their nest to escape troin otir

sent forth from the depth or‘ the chest, and resem--'

l

,'the creatures had reached us, and that they seemed to be smelling our carriage, as if they wished first to see of what the freight consisted before they made the itttiick. With in left hand I seiaed the ready-coclted pistol, tin with a scorching glance I looked or the head of my sister, in order to select that part where death would reach her the surest rind quickest. My right hand had tiiechanicully drawn my hunting knife. A veil of blood appeared to be dl'4v\'ll over my sight, and through the blood I behold the praying Axinia, the hungry wolves, and the wide waste ofsnow. 'l‘hen one of tlic crea- tures got nearer to our sleigh ; it gave it fright- ful spring to clear its side, but my hunting- kr.ifc oniiglit it in the tlaink as it sprung. and it fell deud before it reached us. Axiniu littd sunk in terror by the side of the lady's-mttid, who had long since been cowering in the bottom of the sleigli.

‘ Well done !’ cried Roako to me. with all the spirit ofti young man. ‘ Spore your powder. rind use our knife! I can see the lint now. llold out only it little longer, ttnd then we shall be secure.’ l‘lien the bloody veil fell froiii lio- forc my eyes, rind it become ugitin light within me and ttroiind. Rosko flogged the horses uti- niorcifully, itnd once more the fiiitliful lit.-nets tiinde incredible exertions; itsceint-.tl as if they fclt that this wits the last piece of service they sou ev--r render their initstcrs, and were therefore willing to ut forth tlieirlitatstrcngtli. lit the iiiciintiuic, had put the pistol in my brotist-pocket, and stood upright, with the giinstot-k held up in my hand ready to strike Whether it was that this tlircntening itttitudo IIIIHIB itii impression on our pursuers, or witc- ther the accelerated specd ofour horses was the cause, I know not; but so it was, that we begun to leave the sirvttgo monsters it little be- hitid, and we gained a slight, but in our situa- tion. invttluttblo advantage over them. I looked ttround tnc—l here stood the lint : the d00|' was open ; and Rosko gnve it cry ofjoy. as witlt his powerful hand he drew up the horses, and then sprttttg from his seat, siiyiii_ : ‘We are iorc—vre are here! Quickly out, and into the hut: there's not a miinieiir to he lost!‘ Biit iilrctidy had Axiniti, with wonderful energy, sprung out of the sleigh and into the hut; ltoitko followed lter,c.trryiit the ftiintitiglady's tnai ; I was the last. As was going in, the old niitn stitttchcd the gun out of my hand, and

,,,,,,,,m,.e. and “M, an uppeannw arm. ,,,,.a,_ pursners. Qilirn the rushing, sitnfllimz, and pant. est terr-ir. Axiria win too deeply engigvil in ll}?! IIWII Ill"l|k'llIB nnit Ieeliiigs to pay any atten- tion I0 the altwctl behaviour of the nttittizils ; hot I, being used to them and their habits, felt agitated. and prt-p.tre.l as it were for siimg strange and wonderful occiirn-nce ; and old IIo~ltu also appeared tiow to be seized with a ct-ririin uneasy feeling. He looked luck several times quickly, scented to ho l stt-tiiiig ; then he gave the horses the reins, so ilizi. tit»-y Wt'I'6 free to go at their own speed, and olfthev set at a ftill gallop. was so seated in the sleigh, that by turning tiiy head my mouth was close to our driver's ear. ‘What is the iniitter, Rosko!’ wliispercdl an Refill)’ '0 llllll. that it was impossible for .-lxinia to catch what I said. ‘You seemed to be alarmed and asif the uneasiness oI'tlte horses had cum- uiunicatctt itselfto you. he old rmn c0ntlltIrl'etI for a moment. and then answered trio in the same low tone. '1 fear the wolves are upon our track ; the cold has driven them out of the woods, and hunger makes them follow us; aiitl if the speed of the horses does not save us, we are lost.‘

I have since then led the life ofa soldier. and have beheld de.iih in its mist fearful tvrms ;hnt never in the thick of battte‘s roar, nor in front of a flaming battery, did lever teel the terror and horror] felt at this moment. My firsi thought was my sister. I saw, in imagination, her deli- cate lovely form torn by the teeth of monster! 3 lssw tltrm appease their hunger with ssnguinsry delight. I had often heard that these creatures pursued their prey with an obstinacy and ii speed which made it impossible to escape from them. If our horses coultl hold out, vie might be saved, but I felt sure, that their strength would be exhausted before that of our pursuerc, and that we shotild fall a sacrifice to them. I wore I hunting knife by my side, and had also with me a rifle and a pair of pistols; but my provision of powder and ball was small, and could serve only to bring down some few of these savage animals, which I knew were accustomed to go out upon their nirrhtly ex editions in flocks of several hundreds together. it the meantime, old flosko drove the horses onward with unceasing speed ; but it was not necessary to or them much, for the acute instinct of the tcrrifi beasts understood the approaching danger better than we. I felt an unccssing inclination to look back into the dis- taccc behind us, in order to listen, through the

a- =' O

stillness of the night, for some sound that might “"1”! “'0 '°¢ll| 07 ‘M IVOIVCI 9’

confirm the horror of our fate.

is saw and heard plaincr than I. are corning—tliey are coming !' ' suddenly. ing! ’ he come it cut of thus a itdrett.

y look like a dark shadow as they

1 mg g. .5“ nay.-. ,,,,,d,.,» 5.1,, gm; t war a heaven; itsccrtied to toe tbst deliverance

,ougbt to come, and must come, from above to

already scan. with a strange gliding motion, an cucrmous black mass cams ncarcr sud ncsrsr ; it

passed quickly over the suovr, that one could not 003"‘ cxacfly diuis ulsli the manner of its motion, and ' “'0 A ''“ll''!- Tim‘ ‘M Plmlul '0‘ ""“'Pll|'l ' mm ,r .¢,,|¢| (gt, goon pygmy. came closer to us, and I saw that the foremost of

atbscamccv

-11,.’ , a tear ran down his check ; without speaking, he gy|,,.|,,,,»,,d 1,, I looked at me, and nodded his head, as if by that -Don-3 you lg." [hg mghing Ind Pu“. ’ means to add force to what he had said. Never

in. “H”, [3 is . put, .1‘ .39.. i II‘tl’0IIflII my veins:I looked into the innocent face i ‘ 0 '

rushed out again. I looked after him in its- tonishinent; Itittw that the wolves were com- ing up in enormous numhers,ii.nd I knew that they would be up with us in it minute or two. I citllcd after hint to come back, but his work was already done: with two cuts of the whip.

ing drew fl(’llti-I agaiii; the dark mass came on with wnnrli.-ilul speed, and I soon perceived that! I few of the creatures had outrun the others, and were ap|I|’t).it‘.llln,-1 with their gaping jaws exteiitl- ed towards us. A second baill struck the most, daring ol them to the ground. I hoped by lltls‘ _ again to gain time; I hopvd that, ru-nured by he had sct the horses oil‘ itgn_in into it full girl- the frequent stopping of the boasts over their , lop: and lllld I203 530'‘ “fill” Jul“ “5 “'0 I-‘ll ll"? dead comrades, we might be able to gain the out- ' savage he“!!! mllde 3 EEYIHI5 l“V““'d3 “'9 I“"- ....e of the forest, and perhaps some lmman With two hlowsof the ut-end of the gun, he dwelling. But how vain were my calctilations! Struck tltelu lmtll downdlnd then WIS by my This time they did not remitin near so long with lflltle llfltllll : ttltll just III‘ II“! f0l'9l1l03l 0f ll“? Puck their dead companion .3 with the rim ; I ma reached the hut, and would have pressed in, we scarcely time to reload, before they were after us puttlled to the 8(|‘(‘l|g OBI“-in (I007. |md_l'0lI('d II ttgsin. with the iron bolt, which, providentiully. we ‘It is all of no use,’ whis cred Rtisko to me: found Still ll"-‘T0-, _

‘the liorsea cannot last much longer, and then we .I 0ll0“ld In "H0 °“d°'“'°“’ l° d°'°"'b° "'9 .I|' _ feelings I experienced at that moment. Many And It is true that by this titne there was a years have passed away since that time; I visible decrease in the strength of our horses; have gone through much that was .culculnted their breath became an anxious garping,and their to try the soul ; but never had I feelings equal pace unsteady. They did their best, for they knew to these. The purest joy at the deliverance of that the bloodthirsty destroyers were at our heels, - my sister took ossession of tits, and with it and Hill they knew only speed could save us ; boil the feeling that had sinned against the great- thcir powers were becoming more and more ex- ness and the goodness of the Almighty. I felt hatisted. Often had one or other of them already ‘the utmost cuutrition : I dttrcd not speak to fallen on its knees and then sprang up again with Axiniii, whose confidence in heaven had never a desperate effort. We were, indeed in a fes-lull for one moment forsaken her, and who at this situation ; I trembled for Axinis’s life, not for my moment; and with 3 steady VOIC9. Will Ofiered own. My balls brought down afew more of our thanks for her merciful deliverance. The pnrsuers, but that no longer disturbed them in snullling and rattling of the wolves at the door their chase. They were new quite close behind roused me from the train of thought into which its ; their heavy breathing was more distinctly I had fallen. Rosko had had the_prcsence of card. Icould see their gaping jaws and rows of mind, when he run bitck to set the ltorseii of, frightful teeth, and their tongues hanging out; and thereby give them the chance of saving and I could see their savage, fiery eyes. At d themselves, to snvttch the lantern from the what a multittidc was there of them! My last sleigh, and bring it with him into the hut. We chsrge was expended, and now OBIOIIMI no now began to examine the interior, to see whe- means of defence against an attack nfihe furious ther we were in safety; and as we did so, we aniinsls,exccpt my two pistols, which had not heard the low growling of the wolves. Wlllcll yet been fired om m hunting-knife, siid continucdjumpin against the door.and climb- but-end of my rifle. 'I‘his llosko had remarked. ing up against t c windows: but fortunately ‘There is still one hope left.’ said he: ‘I re- the windows were fastened with very strong member to have seen on our way here an unin- shutters. Mud-walls surrounded us. and I hsbitetl huntcr’s lint. which catinotuow bc fsr.ofi' bank of earth was built against one side: it If we succeed in reaching it, we are safe for the little half-rotten straw lay in a corner, and by present ; if not, the wolves will tear its to peiees, and relieve their ficruc hunger with our flesh. If it cornea to that, air,’ continued he with a tram- bling voice, ‘ then-—you have still the loaded pis- tols-—tIien be compassionate. and give your sister a speedy death, that she may’ not die by ‘inches

the side of it lay an invaluable treasure, a heap of firewood, suficient, in all probabillt , to save us, durin four-uud—tvrcnt hours, rout the severity of e frost. The 0 d servant lost not a moment In tucking use of the discover . A most grateful lire soon llsined in the midd s of the room, the svuoke from which went up- wards, and found an outlet at one of those. 0 nings in the roof which usuitlly form the clioimncy in those hunters‘ huts. I now breath- ed more freely, and could look more calmly upon my sister, who had set down quietly upon the earthen bank. and was engaged in endeav- ouring to restore the faintin lady's-maid, whom Roako had placed there w it he carried her in. With the hel of some spirits from Rocko’c fissk, slic ct st sucoccdsd; end we ell gutliered round tbs Ire, tbc cllcis 'cf which soon gnvo us new life; and whilst we

in speechless silence at the old man ;

shall I forget that moment! A shudder rsn

Ill sister: I turned my eyes in desperation to-

that tile and pious being, who forgot all her dangers in her resignation to the will of

8

enemies outside, we con atulated

upon having escaped froingtrliein. 'l‘ha°:‘:-',.e,l:.T,f women, now that the purulysing eflbet ofigl fcur had left her, began to describe with ‘-0 tonishing volubillty. all she had suffered nu: how she had expected every iiiouient to ge'e " of the inonsterss ring into the sltii h and sllnllo l°“’ "5 “H “P- {Jul h°ldl Axiristtfs ltundui - mine, and on expression 0 unspeakable ' n might be seen in the faces of us both, 15 Rosko nlonc appeared unmoved at the favour wltich fitte had shown us; he cut looking with gloomy thouglitlulncss i'nto the rising flames - his brow was knit, and from time to time he shook his head. Suddenly we now heard, re-

prercingtt cry of pain, that we looked nt each other in astonishment, and Axiniit crept close to tne,ns if for safety I hiid never liettrd a. sound like it before. it could he the tones of no human being that pierced the air um, so much strength, and I knew of no animal the cry of which it r-iscinblcd. It soon conscd; but the piteous coniplitint, tlio lieart-piercitig dig. tress of that tone, continued to sound in 0,“. cars. lIo.~ko had gone uneasily towards the door, and was lookiu through it crank in it. It had now become stiller without, and it up. pt-tired to me that the growling and howling of the wolves no longer sounded so directly in our ncigltliourliood. Old Ilosko ciiuio back from the door, and he must lnivo seen in the nxprcssion of my face an interrogation as to the shocking. unnnturnl toitcs we lnsil heard, ‘Poor Alexander? ml is over with him ' The young hotiiit was full ol' 00llI'l|‘_:(‘ and tire, ttnd no doubt “ought his hlood-thirsty oitcuiies bravely with his lionfs; but he was obliged to give way; the numbers were to great for liitn. Yes, sir,‘ continued he, ' thut drtudtul cry tin. nouncod to us the death ofyour fnvotirite horse I have heard this tone, which pierces to the very soul, on the held of bottle. It is peculiar tti strong young horses, which tart ltnrdly with their lile,tind struggle with eath to the last tiioiiient. I will ltry tiny wager it went eititier with t‘ynt|iia ; she was wanker tlinn .'llt'xund.i,|-' iind older too. But this much is certain, that the poor aiiiinttls have become it prey to the wolves, which are in this niionent eiigatgod in devouring them, and tlicrelore I--itvo us in pt-rice. At this moment, there are but few of them about the but; the great innss are ciigiigcd in their horrid moitl. l‘liey will soon return, hovrever, more ruvenonsly, hungry, and more blood-thiriity thud ever; ftir this slight rcpnst is stillicicnt only to stimulate their insatiable up- etites. 'l'lie old man had spoken truly. We sat still, and us ifwniting round the tire : and a few mo- merits only had itsaed when we again heard the feet and the printing of the wolves close out- side: then they came but-sting against the door and the window-shutters: then the growling became louder; and we could find that, with newly excited rage, they were trying to climb up the door-posts and the mud-walls in order to get upon the roof. We were in the most nxiouc suspenco. Our eyes were fixed on the pening in the roof just above us, through which, when is pulfofwind parted the cloud of smoke which went up from our fire, the star- light henvens looked bri litly down upon us. A f of smo e was just about to

ll 0

resh column twirl upwards, when the lady's-maid uttered B loud shriek, and, pointing with her finger to the roof. fell speechless on the ground. A fearful sight was before us! Four wolves’ heads, with blood jaws, and their tongues hanging out, showing their white rows ol‘suv- uge teeth, were ranged round the edge of the opening, and looking down, with glowing eyes, into the flames beneath. Seen through the smoke as we saw them, they looked like do- mons. At this unexpected si ht, only Roako retained his presence of mitt . llo threw a faggot into the fire, saying: ‘ We have nothing to fear from these four ; they do not like fire , it dazzles them, and they will not be able to see us.‘ But suddenly tlit-re (‘time a loud crash in the weak rafters of the roof; three of tltc indristcrs disappeared, but the roof gave way under the fourth, and hung down vtithin the cabin, whilst the creature endeavoured in vain to cling to the rafters which kc t breaking round it. It was very evident tut it must soon fall into the Homes beneath. _ ‘ Awiiy from the fire !‘ cried old Rosko to the two females, who, terrified, fled into I corner. Then he turned to me and said : ‘ Now shoot ! Send s pistol-ball into the fcllow's body : take a d aim—hit sure !’ c acised the gun himself, and stood by with it ready to strike it blow with the stock. e_ heard the creature groaning with fear. It wits of unusual and fearful size. I obeyed me- chanically the command of the old current. I took a true ttlirt, fired, and at the same instant the animal fell into the burnin pile of wood bi-ncath, from which ficw on all sides fircbrends, biirnin coals, and a rite. I started beck from t ti flames; but there lay our enemy bleeding, and rolling itself amongst the fire- brands, liowllng horribly and piteousl with in. Rosko kept his place coursgeou y ; and ofrer having raised the stock of the gun once _cr twice over is head. and brought it down again such timc.vrlth is bcnvy blow, there lay the