rly unable before long to get over the ground. Martin encouraged
me, and I persevered, though feeling inclined to drop at every step. We
had almost lost sight of the wolves, and I proposed resting for a few
minutes.

"We shall be able to make better play afterwards," I said.

"I think it would be wiser to go on," he answered; "but if you wish it,
we'll sit down and loosen the thongs of our snow-shoes."

We sat down, and I was induced to take mine off altogether and to rub my
ankles, hoping thereby to relieve the pain. We had not been seated many
minutes when the yelping of the wolves again reached our ears. Martin,
fastening the thongs, rose to his feet. "They are coming on; I was
afraid so," he exclaimed. "Quick! David, quick! or they'll overtake
us."

He assisted me in getting on my shoes--an operation which took some
time. I again stood on my feet, but the pain appeared only slightly
lessened.

"No time to lose," cried Martin, looking back. "Now, away we go," and
we ran on as before.

Fast as we went, the brutes came on faster at our heels, and their
horrible howls sounded louder in our ears. I felt as I have sometimes
done in a fearful dream. I was scarcely able to move over the snow, the
pain I was suffering making me fancy that I could not lift my feet;
still we were really going at a good pace.

Once more the wolves got within reach of our rifles. We acted precisely
as we had done before, and each of us killed a wolf.

Again we ran on, reloading our guns ready for another shot. We
resolved, great as was the pain we were suffering, not again, on any
account, to stop. The snarling, yelping sounds emitted by the brutes
showed us that, as before, they were tearing to pieces the wolves we had
shot.

We knew that we could not hope for safety till we were inside the fort,
for, from the experience we had had on other occasions, we were certain
that the animals would follow us up to the very walls. Twice in the
previous winter they had pursued our hunters till up to the fort itself.
Again we had to stop and fire. On this occasion we only killed one
wolf, which, of course, would take the brutes less time than two to
devour.

To our great relief we at length came in sight of the fort, by which
time the wolves were again on our trail. We ran on faster than ever,
though we were both so fatigued that we were afraid, should we again
have to fire, that we might miss altogether. We shouted as we
ap