was apparently over, Mr Ross began feeling the fur of
them as they lay around, ere the Indians commenced the work of skinning
them. To the boys, who were closely following him, he explained the
difference between what they called in the fur trade a _prime_ skin and
one of inferior value. After several had been tested in this way, and
all signs of movements on the part of any of the wolves had ceased, they
happened to come to one very large fellow, settled out flat on his
belly, apparently stone dead.

"Here is the finest one we have seen thus far," said Mr Ross, as he
stooped down and began pulling at his dark grey fur, while the boys
stood around with their guns held by the barrels in their hands with the
butt resting on the ground.

While listening to Mr Ross's explanations in reference to the different
grades of skins, Sam's sharp eyes fancied they detected a slight quiver
in the eyelids of the fierce brute, that was apparently unconscious of
the thorough way in which Mr Ross was pulling his fur and testing it in
various places. Not wishing to be laughed at, Sam said nothing about
his suspicions that life was still there, but he nevertheless, without
attracting attention, so changed the position of his loaded gun that it
would not take him long to fire if necessity arose. And very soon the
occasion came. As Mr Ross moved around to the front of the animal he
stooped down to feel the thickness of the fur that grows between the
short ears. No sooner had he done this than with the fury of a demon
the wolf sprang up at him, and made a desperate attempt to seize him by
the throat.

Mr Ross was completely thrown off his guard, but fortunately as the
brute sprang at him he threw up his arm, and thus saved his throat. But
the arm was pierced by the sharp teeth, that seemed to penetrate through
the clothing and flesh to the very bone. However, that was his last
spring and his last bite, for before even Mustagan or anyone else could
seize a weapon the report of Sam's gun rang out, and the wolf fell, dead
enough this time. Sam had put the muzzle within a yard of his side, and
the charge had fairly torn its way through him.

So savage had been the attack, and so viciously had the wolf fastened
onto the arm of Mr Ross, that, when the brute fell over dead, the jaws
remained set with the teeth in the flesh, and so Mr Ross fell or was
dragged to the ground by the weight of the animal. Mustagan and the
others had to use