New National Fourth Reader | Page 7

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 the wolves.
"This time he skated up close behind them, just at the moment when Harry had turned again, and thus made his second escape.
"At this moment, we heard Frank calling out to his brother to make for the shore, while, instead of retreating himself, he stopped until Harry had passed, and then dashed off, followed closely by the whole pack.
"Another slight turn brought him nearly in our direction; but there was a large hole broken through the ice close by the shore, and we saw that, unless he turned again, he would skate into it.
"We thought he was watching the wolves too intently to see it, and we shouted to warn him. Not so; he knew better than we what he was about.
"When he had reached within a few feet of the hole, he wheeled sharply to the left, and came dashing up to the point where we stood to receive him.
"The wolves, too intent upon their chase to see any thing else, went sweeping past the point where he had turned, and the next moment plunged through the broken ice into the water.
"Then Cudjo and I ran forward, shouting loudly, and, with the heavy rail and the long spear, commenced dealing death among them.
"It was but a short, though exciting scene. Five of them were speared and drowned, while the sixth crawled out upon the ice and was rapidly making off, frightened enough at his cold ducking.
[Illustration]
"At that moment I heard the crack of a rifle and saw the wolf tumble over.
"On turning round I saw Harry with, my rifle, which my wife had brought down and handed to him, as a better marksman than herself.
"The wolf, only wounded, was kicking furiously about on the ice; but Cudjo now ran out, and, after a short struggle, finished the business with his spear.
"This was, indeed, a day of great excitement in our forest home. Frank, who was the hero of the day, although he said nothing, was no doubt not a little proud of his skating feat.
"And well he might be, as, but for his skill, poor Harry would no doubt have fallen a prey to the fierce wolves."
* * * * *
Language Lesson.--Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of what is given below in dark type.
Again he