ttle to eat. They were
then much more numerous than they are to-day. At that time there was a
bounty on wolves and hundreds of heads were turned in to the government
each winter and spring. Joe and his party were coming back to Escoumains
after a good winter's hunt. They stopped on the next lake at a hunter's
shack that was there at that time. As the weather promised to keep cold,
they determined to stay there, feeling that if the spring should come
with a rush that they would be able to get down to Escoumains, as it was
only a week's journey distant.

"They therefore set their traps and went methodically about their
business of gathering in the furry harvest made profitable to them
through the desires of 'My Lady' in the large cities, whose fair necks
must be covered and protected from even the cold autumn's breath. One
fine day Joe set out to make the round of the traps. He had good luck
and was going home about four o'clock in the afternoon, laden with two
foxes and four rabbits. Joe was hurrying on, for there was no moon and
the shades of night fall very early in these latitudes even in March.
They had heard a wolf occasionally, but had felt no fear of them, so
that when Joe heard the long-drawn note, he did not give it even a
thought. He was intent on getting back before nightfall, so he failed to
note that the howls were rapidly approaching.

"As he reached the surface of the lake, which was of course frozen
tightly at that time of year, he was astonished to hear the howl of a
wolf, immediately followed by other howls only a short distance in his
rear. He hurried on, but before he could get across the lake, he saw
several dark forms dash out on the ice behind him. He broke into a run,
but the pack rapidly overtook him. Raising his gun to fire, he was
thunderstruck to find that in some way he had jammed the trigger and
that it would not work.

"He did not have any time to waste, so he threw down two rabbits and
hurried on. The wolves stopped only a moment, when they came to the
rabbits. He could hear them snarling and quarreling over their small
carcasses. He felt his blood run cold and wondered if he was to be torn
to pieces in like manner. Once more the pack came on, so he threw
another couple of rabbits to them and ran ahead. They got quite near to
him the next time, so he dropped the remainder of his load and fled for
the shore. He felt that his only chance lay in getting ashore and up a
tree. As he ran he t