ent,
and the frightened Indians guarding the whimpering dogs.

It did not need an expert marksman to find a target in that pack. There
must have been at least fifty wolves in it, and their hunger had made
them exceedingly daring. They leaped against the sleds, and tried with
their keen teeth to bite through the lashings to get at the frozen fish
and seal blubber which formed the rations for the dogs.

"Give 'em some more!" cried Mr. Baxter. "They are coming closer!"

Indeed some of the wolves had actually invaded the tent, hoping to find
something to eat there. The rifles cracked, the wolves howled and the
dogs yelped, while the Indians called to one another in their harsh
tongue, asking if their white masters would be able to drive off the
foe.

Fred and Jerry were firing as fast as they could work the ejection
levers and triggers of their guns. At first they did not notice the
cold, but after a few shots the piercing frost began to numb their
fingers, for they had taken off their big, heavy mittens, which made it
impossible to work their guns, and had on only light gloves.

"My fingers are too stiff to pull the trigger!" exclaimed Fred as he
vainly tried to fire another shot. "They feel like pieces of ice."

"So do mine," added Jerry.

"Give 'em one more volley and I think we'll scatter 'em," called Mr.
Baxter as he and Johnson fired again.

The boys managed to do it, though the cold, which was intense, was
making itself felt more and more. But the tide had turned. More than
half the wolves had been killed and a number wounded, for it was
impossible to miss, firing into the midst of the pack as they did. With
snarls of baffled rage the remainder of the fierce creatures withdrew to
some distance, and, sitting down on their haunches, howled dismally,
with their muzzles lifted in the air toward the flickering Aurora
Borealis. The dogs howled back in answer, and then, after a few shots at
long distance, the battle was ended. The wolves turned tail and trotted
off across the snow-covered waste.

"It's lucky we heard them in time," commented Mr. Baxter, "or they might
have been the means of depriving us of all our dogs. Then we would have
had to give up the expedition for the time being."

As it lacked several hours to morning, and as every one was cold, Mr.
Baxter had Johnson make a big pot of tea, some of which was served to
the Indians. The beverage warmed every one up, and then the treasure
hunters once more