Their to hiss forth their breath with a sound truly horrible, when an involuntary motion on my part turned me out of my course. The wolves, close behind, unable to stop, and as unable to turn on the smooth ice, slipped and fell, still going on far ahead. tongues were lolling out; their white tusks were gleaming from their bloody mouths; their dark shaggy breasts were fleeced with foam; and as they passed me their eyes glared, and they howled with fury. The thought flashed on my mind that by this means I could avoid them,-namely, by turning aside whenever they came too near; for, by the formation of their feet, they are unable to run on ice except in a straight line. 9. "I immediately acted upon this plan. The wolves having regained their feet, sprang directly towards me. The race was renewed for twenty yards up the stream; they were already close at my back, when I glided round and dashed directly past them. A fierce yell greeted my evolution, and the wolves, slipping on their haunches, sailed onward, presenting a perfect picture of helplessness and baffled rage. Thus I gained nearly a hundred yards at each turning. This was repeated two or three times, the animals becoming more excited and baffled every moment. 10. "At one time, by delaying my turning too long, my sanguinary antagonists came so near that they threw their white foam over my dress as they sprang to seize me, and their teeth clasped together like the spring of a fox-trap! Had my skates failed for one instant,—had I tripped on a stick, or had my foot been caught in a fissure of the ice,-the story I am now telling would never have been told. 11. "I thought over all the chances. I knew where they would first seize me if I fell. I thought how long it would be before I died; and then of the search for my body, that would already have had its tomb: for oh! how fast man's mind traces out all the dread colours of death's picture, only those who have been near the grim original can tell. 12. " At last I came opposite the house, and my hounds-I knew their deep voices-roused by the noise, bayed furiously from their kennels. I heard their chains rattle; how I wished they would break them then I should have had protectors to match the fiercest denizens of the forest. The wolves, taking the hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped in their mad career, and after a few moments turned and fled. 13. "I watched them until their forms disappeared over a neighbouring hill; then, taking off my skates, I wended my way to the house, with feelings which may be better imagined than described. But even yet I never see a broad sheet of ice by moonlight without thinking of that snuffing breath, and those fearful things that followed me so closely down that frozen river."-W. Whitehead. 14. Such is the strange tale of escape from the winter wolves of America. In Russia they are no less dreaded; and the traveller, even when flying over the snow in his swift sledge, often finds the speed of his horses barely sufficient to rescue him from the hungry pack. On such occasions their merciless rapacity often proves his means of escape; for no sooner does he shoot down one of the foremost, than the whole pack crowd round it and tear it to pieces! By such means time is gained, and the affrighted horses, fleeing at their utmost speed, at length dash with the sledge into the shelter of the long wished-for station. Questions:-1. Where did this incident occur? At what time? 2. How far up the river had the skater gone when he turned into the forest? 3. What sounds did he hear in the forest? 4. What did he see dashing through the brushwood? 5. What place of danger had he to fear? Why did the wolves miss him? 6. What place did he try to reach? 7. How did he know that they were in close pursuit? 8. How was a plan of escape suggested to him? 9. How did he carry it out? With what result? 10. What nearly happened? 11. What were the skater's thoughts? 12. What caused the wolves to return to the forest? 13. What thoughts does a broad sheet of ice by moonlight always bring to the writer? 14. By what means do travellers in Russia often escape packs of wolves? Notes and Meanings. 1 In-crust-ed, covered with hoar-frost; Ap-palled', in the greatest fear. 6 Fu-gi-tive, one who flees from danger. Ex-ert-ed, put forth. 7 At-tend-ants, pursuers; the wolves. 8 In-vol-un-ta-ry, not intended. 9 Ev-o-lu-tion, turning; quick move- Baffled, beaten; disappointed. 11 O-rig-i-nal, real thing. 13 I-mag-ined, thought about. Summary:-A gentleman in America out skating one moonlight night was pursued by wolves. He kept out of their way by turning aside whenever they came too near him. In this way he managed to reach his home, when the baying of his hounds in their kennels so frightened the wolves that they turned and fled. The winter wolves of Russia are also very dangerous. Exercises: 1. Parse and analyze: The winter wolves of Russia are also very dangerous. 2. Make into Nouns-laugh, silent, distant, sorry, thinking, shoot. 3. Make Sentences containing-flea, flee; flew, flue; fool, full; frees, freeze; furs, furze, firs. 4. Write all you know about the Wolf. Give any wolf-story you have heard or read. LOVE LIGHTENS LABOUR. 1. A good wife rose from her bed one morn, Of the piles of clothes to be washed, and more There's the meals to get for the men in the field, To school, and the milk to be skimmed and churned; 2. It had rained in the night, and all the wood There were puddings and pies to bake, besides And the day was hot, and her aching head "If maidens but knew what good wives know, 3. "Jennie, what do you think I told Ben Brown?" And a flush crept up to his bronzëd brow, "It was this," he said, and, coming near, He smiled, and, stooping down, Kissed her cheek,-""Twas this: that you were the And the dearest wife in town!" 4. The farmer went back to the field; and the wife, In a smiling and absent way, Sang snatches of tender little songs She'd not sung for many a day. [best And the pain in her head was gone, and the clothes Her bread was light, and her butter was sweet, 5." Just think," the children all called in a breath— He wouldn't, I know, if he'd only had |