w some dark objects in the snow.

"Whether they are wolves or Indians crouching down to try and get on us
unawares is more than I can tell," he observed; "but whichever they are,
we had better push forward, and endeavour to keep ahead of them."

I of course agreed with him, and as we went along we looked to the
primings of our rifles, so that we might be prepared to defend
ourselves.

"For my part, I would rather they should follow us than attack our
friends," I observed. "Perhaps they are some of the tribe Mr Meredith
heard of, and did not come up in time to see him pass; if so, we shall
render him good service by leading them up to the fort."

"You take it for granted that they are Indians," said Martin; "I am not
quite so certain of the fact. I rather believe that they are a small
pack of wolves; and if they were not so far off, we should hear them
howling to their friends in the neighbourhood to join in the chase.
However, we need not be afraid of them; for if they get within shot we
can kill a couple, and the rest are sure to stop and devour their
companions, and allow us to increase our distance." He made these
remarks as we were running on over the snow at a rate which would cost
even Indians or wolves a considerable amount of exertion to overtake us.

Before, however, we had made good another mile, the objects we had seen
were sufficiently near to assure us that they were wolves out on a
foraging expedition. That they would, on seeing us run, pursue us there
could be no doubt, and we occasionally looked back to determine when was
the best time to stop, in order to take a steady aim at the leaders.

"Now we must give it them," at length cried Martin, who had just looked
round.

We suddenly halted, and swinging our right feet round, confronted the
pack; then, both of us taking deliberate aim, we fired.

The two leading wolves fell, and, as we expected, the rest of the hungry
pack immediately set on them, and tore their carcasses to pieces.
Having reloaded, we again continued our course.

We had got some distance when the pain in my ankles again came on. I
asked Martin how he felt. He confessed that he was suffering in the
same manner. "It won't do to stop, however," he observed; "for these
brutes, when they have eaten up their friends, will again give chase,
and we shall not be safe till we are inside the walls of the fort."

We were still several miles from it, and I feared that I should be
utte