New National Fourth Reader | Page 7

interested in hearing it.
"It occurred in the dead of winter, when there was snow upon the
ground. The lake was frozen over, and the ice was as smooth as glass.
We spent much of our time in skating about over its surface, as the
exercise gave us health and a good appetite.
"Even Cudjo, our colored servant, had taken a fancy for this
amusement, and was a very good skater. Frank was fonder of it than the
rest of us, and was, in fact, the best skater among us.
"One day, however, neither Cudjo nor I had gone out, but only Frank
and Harry. The rest of us were busy at some carpenter work within
doors.
"We could hear the merry laugh of the boys, and the ring of their skates
as they glided over the smooth ice. All at once, a cry reached our ears,
which we knew meant the presence of some danger.
"'O Robert!' cried my wife, 'they have broken through the ice!'

"We all dropped what we held in our hands, and rushed to the door. I
seized a rope as I ran, while Cudjo took his long spear, thinking it
might be of use to us. This was the work of a moment, and the next we
were outside the house.
"What was our astonishment to see both the boys, away at the farthest
end of the lake, but skating toward us as fast as they could!
"At the same time, our eyes rested upon a terrible sight. Close behind
them upon the ice, and following at full gallop, was a pack of wolves!
"They were not the small prairie wolves, which either of the boys might
have chased with a stick, but of a species known as the 'Great Dusky
Wolf' of the Rocky Mountains.
"There were six of them in all. Each of them was twice the size of the
prairie wolf, and their long, dark bodies, gaunt with hunger, and crested
from head to tail with a high, bristling mane, gave them a most fearful
appearance.
"They ran with their ears set back and their jaws apart, so that we could
see their red tongues and white teeth.
"We did not stop a moment, but rushed toward the lake. I threw down
the rope, and seized hold of a large rail as I ran, while Cudjo hurried
forward armed with a spear. My wife, with presence of mind, turned
back into the house for my rifle.
"I saw that Harry was foremost, and that the fierce wolves were fast
closing upon Frank. This was strange, for we knew that Frank was by
far the better skater. We all called out to him, uttering loud shouts of
encouragement. Both were bearing themselves manfully, but Frank was
most in danger.
"The wolves were upon his heels! 'O they will kill him!' I cried,
expecting the next moment to see him thrown down upon the ice. What
was my joy at seeing him suddenly wheel and dart off in a new
direction."

* * * * *
Directions for Reading.--This lesson should be read with spirit, and in a
full, clear tone of voice.
* * * * *
Language Lesson.--Presence of mind is the power to act quickly when
sudden danger threatens.
Upon his heels means very close to.
Dead of winter is the middle of winter, as that is supposed to be the
quietest or most lifeless time.
Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words:
_fancy, gallop, prairie, bristling, rifle_.
* * * * *

LESSON VI.
e lud'ed, _got away from; avoided_.
ex cit'ing, causing deep interest.
marks'man, one who shoots well.
re treat'ing, going away from.
en a'bled, _helped; made able_.
sim'i lar, _like; nearly the same_.
pur suit', following after.
nim'bly, with a quick motion.
com menced', began.
* * * * *

AN ADVENTURE WITH DUSKY WOLVES.

PART II.

"The wolves, thus nimbly eluded, now kept on after Harry, who, in turn,
became the object of our anxiety.
"In a moment they were close upon him; but he, already warned by his
brother, wheeled in a similar manner, while the fierce brutes, swept
along by the force of their running, were carried a long distance upon
the ice before they could turn themselves.
"Their long, bushy tails, however, soon enabled them to turn about and
follow in the new direction, and they galloped after Harry, who was
now the nearest to them.
"Frank, in the meantime, had again turned, and came sweeping past
behind them, at the same time shouting loudly, as if to tempt them
away from their pursuit of Harry.
"They heeded him not, and again he changed his direction, and, as
though he was about to skate into their midst, followed