to safety, ere they reached him.

"Now some of you will smart!" the half-frozen boy exclaimed, and he
clenched his teeth in righteous anger. Shot after shot he poured into the
blood-thirsty brutes, and watched with horror as those remaining alive
pounced upon the dying ones. Four wolves he killed and two he wounded,
then sat still awhile to catch his breath and scrutinize the dozen
animals remaining, to see whether the one in whose body his knife had
been carried off, was there. He did not see it, though the twilight gloom
was now dispelled by bright moonlight. So, soon he resumed the terrible
execution he had wrought among the pack, and was firing as fast as he
could load, when he heard John's familiar whistle.

"Watch out, John! There are still eight of the fiercest wolves you ever
saw here!" he called in warning, but almost simultaneously his chum's
rifle sounded, and but seven wolves remained. Another and another went
down to death and the five which were left, taking fright at last, sped
away among the timber, howling dismally.

"You had me scared into fits, almost," John cried, as Ree climbed down.
"Why, how cold you are!" he exclaimed, grasping his friend's hand. "And
your teeth are chattering! How did it happen any way? Come along home!"

"I'll tell you about it; but we'd better skin the wolves that have not
been half eaten, first. Bloody as a battle field, isn't it?"

"Skin nothing! Come along! It is most terribly cold and you are half
frozen. We can get the skins in the morning if there is any thing left of
them."

For once Ree yielded and when he had recovered his snow-shoes John
marched him off at a pace which soon put his blood in circulation.

If ever the young pioneers appreciated the rude comforts of their cabin,
they did that night. It was sweet to feel snug and warm and safe, as Ree
told the story of his adventure more fully than at first; to stretch
their weary legs toward the crackling fire and lean back in the fur
covered seat they had constructed. It was pleasant to eat a lunch of nuts
secured from the Indians, and venison steaks cut thin and broiled crisp.
It was comfortable to creep into bed and lie awake and talk of their
plans; of their friends in far away Connecticut; of incidents of their
trip; of the strange absence of Tom Fish; of the sad story of Arthur
Bridges--of many, many things.

And it was pleasant to watch with half closed eyes, the firelight dancing
on the rough cabin wal