with the
leather-wood string; he then broke some smaller branches, and
interlaced them with the larger ones, until he had made a strong and
quite comfortable bed. In this singular couch he placed Anne, where she
soon fell asleep.

Gradually the fire died away, and nearer and nearer their dreadful
enemies approached, until they came to the carcass of the dead wolf,
which they tore into pieces and devoured, amidst frightful growlings
and fightings. When nothing but the bare bones were left, they
surrounded the tree in whose friendly branches the children had taken
refuge, and kept up a continued howl through the night. Edward sat on a
limb by his sister through the night, his knife ready for use,
wondering if ever there was a night so long before. To him it seemed as
though day would never dawn; and when he espied the first faint glimmer
in the east, his heart bounded with gratitude that he had escaped the
perils of the night. But would the wolves go away with the darkness?
alas! they did not, but still prowled around, so that they did not dare
to descend from their place of security.

Howe and Lewis had discovered the place where the children had ate
their dinners at the fort, and had traced them until they came to the
place where they first found they had missed their way. Here the hounds
became perplexed in consequence of the children having doubled their
track, and were unable to make out the path. After some delay it was
again found, and followed to the river bank, which Howe hesitated to
cross, as it was now quite dark; accordingly they encamped for the
night. At dawn the next morning they crossed the river; the dogs were
turned loose, and after a few moments they set off at a rapid pace in
one direction; Howe and Lewis followed, and came in sight in time to
see the dogs give battle to the wolves that were watching the children
in the tree.

"Our rifles are needed there," said Howe, as his practised glance took
in the combat, and drawing his eye across his trusty gun, a sharp crack
was heard, and a wolf was felled to the ground. Again it was heard, and
another bit the dust. Lewis had not been idle; he too had brought down
two of them, and the remainder fled, with the hounds in pursuit.

The children's joy I will not attempt to describe, as they saw their
rescuers approach, nor yet the agony of the parents, as the night wore
away and the absent ones came not. Lewis took his sister in his arms,
holding her on the