ath!

These resolves were made with a despatch that allowed no time for
reflection--scarcely time for speech or protestation. The ferocious
wolves were eager for their prey.

It was their determination to act promptly to the time; for, without
further hesitation, half-a-dozen of the most forward in the business
advanced towards me--evidently with the intent to put their design into
execution!

And, beyond a doubt, they would have done it--had I been alone and
unprotected--beyond a doubt they would have killed and eaten me! But I
was not alone--I was not without a protector. As the fierce cannibals
advanced, Brace sprang between them and me, and drawing his clasp-knife,
threatened to cut down the first who should lay a finger upon me.

"Off!" cried he, "off, you cowardly swabs! Lay your hand upon the lad,
and I'll make mince-meat o' ye. He may be the first to be eaten, but he
arn't the first that'll die for it--there's more than one o' ye'll have
to kick the bucket afore he does. Blowed if thar arn't! So now ye
cowardly hounds! come on if you dare."

The dastards, cowed by the intrepid bearing of Brace, halted in their
advance and hung back--though no one of them ventured a reply. They
seemed to have been taken by surprise; for although they knew that Brace
opposed the design, they had no idea he would attempt to struggle
against the whole crew. Surprise, therefore, held them back, mingled
with some little fear--for the determined attitude which Brace had
taken, and the shining blade of his knife, promised death to some of
them; and, as each feared it might be himself, no one desired to be the
foremost.

I had thrown myself alongside my brave protector, resolving to do battle
and die by his side--though not much could my puny arm have effected
against the host of strong ferocious men who assailed us. Still it
would be better to die thus, than to be butchered in cold blood; and
under this belief I nerved myself for the encounter.

At this crisis a change appeared to take place in the attitude of my
companion: some new thought had struck him; and, waving his hand in a
peculiar manner--which signified to our antagonists that he had some
proposal to make--he succeeded in obtaining silence. He then addressed
them as follows:--"Comrades! arn't it too bad there should be
quarrelling atween us at such a time as this, when we're all in trouble
alike?"

Brace's late tone of defiance had changed to one of half