pily struck that down also; but
several were at the same time making at Rose and Letty. My courage rose
to desperation. I must save them even though I were myself to perish;
but how could I hope to drive off the savage pack that came scampering
on, eager to tear us to pieces?

There must have been fifty or more of them. Again and again as I struck
around me I shouted with all my might. A reply came from behind me. It
was that of human voices.

I heard a shot, and another wolf rolled over. I dared not for a second
look round to ascertain who was coming to our relief. Presently I heard
Bouncer's deep bark and the voices of several more people. Other shots
followed, and as the wolves fell their companions as before set upon
them, leaving only a few brutes for me to deal with; till Bouncer,
seizing by the throat one of the most daring, who was in the act of
leaping at Rose, pulled it down as a hound does a deer. Sandy, Pat, and
several of the hunting party now came up, and clubbing their guns,
quickly laid low many more of the wolves, the remainder, panic-stricken,
turning tail and galloping off at full speed. Reloading, we fired at
the retreating pack, a number more of which fell over killed or went
yelping away. Thankful for our merciful deliverance, we returned to the
camp accompanied by our friends. They had followed a buffalo, which
they had killed just below the ridge along which we had been walking
when the wolves attacked us.

Messengers arrived from the remainder of the hunting party, and sledges
were forthwith dispatched to bring in the meat of the animals they had
killed. Another day was spent here, and the second hunting expedition
which was sent out returned almost as successful as the first.

We then again moved forward and reached Fort Ross, without any further
adventure worth recording. The ladies performed the journey without
having suffered any unusual fatigue.

The fort was uninjured, and had evidently not been visited except by
bears, who had managed to break into one of the storerooms, but had got
nothing for their pains.

We had not forgotten Captain Grey and our young friend Robin. Mr
Crisp, who had a good knowledge of medicine and surgery, at once
volunteered to go to his assistance; and Alick and I having organised a
party with four dog-sleighs, we set off, accompanied by the excellent
missionary.

We of course felt very anxious, remembering the precarious state in
which we h