le in
picking a clear path, when his ear was caught by an unwonted sound far
behind him. He paused to listen, no unwonted sound being matter of
indifference to them who range the wood. It came again, long-drawn and
high and cadenced. The big woodsman looked surprised. "I'd 'a' took my
oath," said he to himself, "ther' wa'n't a wolf in New Brunswick! But
I knowed the deer'd bring 'em back afore long!" Then, unconcernedly,
he resumed his tramp, such experience as he had had with wolves in the
West having convinced him that they would not want to meddle with a
man.

In a few minutes, however, the instinct of the woods awoke in him
suddenly, and told him that it was not some buck, but himself, whom
the hunting pack were trailing. Then the sound came again, perceptibly
nearer, though still far off. The woodsman gave a grunt of impatience,
angry to think that any four-foot creature of the forest should
presume to hunt _him_. But the barest prudence told him that he should
make haste for the open. Under protest, as it were, he broke into a
long trot, and swerved to the right, that he might sooner reach the
lake.

As he ran, the novel experience of feeling himself pursued got on his
nerves, and filled him with rage. Were there not plenty of deer in the
woods? he thought, indignantly. He would teach the vermin a lesson.
Several times he was on the point of stopping and waiting, to have it
out with them as soon as possible. But wisdom prevailed, and he pushed
on to the open. On the lake, the moonlit snow was packed hard, and the
running good. About a mile from shore a little, steep, rocky island,
upthrusting itself boldly, suggested to the woodsman that if his
pursuers were really going to have the audacity to attack him, it
might be well to have his back to a rock, that he might not be
surrounded. He headed for the island, therefore, though with protest
in his heart. And just as he got to it the wolves emerged from cover,
and darted out upon the shining level.

"Looks like they really meant it!" growled the big woodsman, loosing
his pack-strap, and setting his jaws for a fight.

When the pack came near he was astonished first at the stature and
dark colour of its members, and he realized, with a sudden fury, that
the outcome was not so assured as he had taken for granted it would
be. Perhaps he would never see camp, after all! Then he was further
astonished to note that one of the pack-leaders looked like a dog. He
shouted