I will go round to the upper end; perchance
the wolf is there. If so, we stand a good chance of killing him, for
the sides of the chasm are like two walls all the way up. But," added
Glumm, hesitating a moment, and looking fixedly at the small but sturdy
frame of his companion, whose heightened colour and flashing eyes
betokened a roused spirit, "I doubt thy--that is--I have no fear of the
spirit, if the body were a little bigger."

"Take thine own big body off, Glumm," said Alric, "and leave me to guard
the pass."

Glumm grinned as he turned and strode away.

The spot which the hunters had reached merits particular notice. It was
one of those wild deep rents or fissures which are usually found near
the summits of almost inaccessible mountains. It was not, however, at
the top of the highest range in that neighbourhood, being merely on the
summit of a ridge which was indeed very high--perhaps five or six
thousand feet--but still far below the serried and shattered peaks which
towered in all directions round Horlingdal, shutting it out from all
communication with the rest of the world, except through the fiord and
the pass leading over to the Springs.

On the place where Alric parted from his friend the rocks of the gorge
or defile rose almost perpendicularly on both sides, and as he advanced
he found that the space between became narrower, until, at the spot
where he was to take his stand, there was an opening of scarcely six
feet in width. Beyond this the chasm widened a little, until, at its
higher end, it was nearly twenty yards broad; but, owing to the widening
nature of the defile, the one opening could not be seen from the other,
although they were little more than four hundred yards apart.

The track of the wolf led directly through the pass into the gorge. As
the lad took his stand he observed with much satisfaction that it was
that of an unusually large animal. This feeling was tempered, however,
with some anxiety lest it should have escaped at the other opening. It
was also mixed with a touch of agitation; for although Alric had seen
his friend and Erling kill wolves and bears too, he had never before
been left to face the foe by himself, and to sustain the brunt of the
charge in his own proper person. Beyond an occasional flutter of the
heart, however, there was nothing to indicate, even to himself, that he
was not as firm as the rock on which he stood.

Now, let it not be supposed that we are