e leafless trees, and they were therefore enabled to shape their
course in the direction in which they had come. Presently they
heard the sound of a shot, followed by several others, and then
the bay of hounds. The sound came from their left.

"They have been trying a fresh place," Ernest said, "and I expect
they have come upon two wolves; one they have shot, the hounds are
after the other."

They turned their horses' heads in the direction of the sounds,
and presently Harry said:

"They are coming this way."

Louder and louder grew the sounds of the chase; then the deep tones
of the hounds were exchanged for a fierce angry barking.

"The wolf is at bay!" Ernest exclaimed.

A minute later some notes were sounded on the horn.

"That is the mort, Harry. We shall arrive before they move on
again."

Five minutes later they rode into a glade where a number of horsemen
were assembled. There was a shout as they were seen.

"Why, Ernest," the marquis called as they approached, "we thought
you had lost us. You have missed some rare sport; but what's the
matter with your arm, and what have you got there?"

"We have got the demon wolf," Ernest replied; "so you haven't had
all the sport to yourselves."

There was a general exclamation of surprise and almost incredulity,
and then every one rode over to meet them, and when it was seen
that the object slung between the two horses was really the demon
wolf there was a shout of satisfaction and pleasure. Again the
notes of the mort rang out through the woods, and every one crowded
round the lads to congratulate them and to examine the dead monster.
Ernest was lifted from his horse, for he was now reeling in
the saddle, and could not have kept his seat many minutes longer.
His wound was carefully examined, and the marquis pronounced
the shoulder-bone to be broken. A litter was made and four of
the foresters hoisted him upon their shoulders, while four others
carried the wolf, still slung on its pole, behind the litter. While
the preparations were being made Harry had given the history of the
slaying of the wolf, saying that he owed his life to the quickness
and courage of Ernest.

"And I owe mine to him," Ernest protested from the bank where he
was lying. "The wolf would have killed me had he not slain it. I
was lucky in stopping it with a ball, but the rest was entirely a
joint affair."

The slaying of the demon wolf was so important an event that no
one thought of