s I was looking out into the darkness
beyond the fire, I fancied that I saw a shadowy form gliding by. It
was, I suspected, that of the wolf, which had been attracted by the
scent of the boiling meat.

The creature was afraid of approaching the fire, or I should soon have
had the contents of my pot carried off. I got Pat's gun, and having
withdrawn the charge and carefully reloaded it, I placed it by my side,
to be ready for use.

Now and then the wolf got near enough to show me its glaring eyeballs,
and several times I was greatly tempted to fire, to try to kill it, but
I did not wish to throw a shot away; and, should I miss, the bullet
might find its way towards one of our horses, which were feeding at some
distance beyond.

At last, on my throwing some more sticks on the fire, which made it
blaze up brightly, the wolf scampered off. My cooking kept me awake the
remainder of the night, and I had some strong broth ready for Pat in the
morning. It had a flavour of its own which would have been much better
for some salt and pepper, not to speak of a few vegetables; but as they
were not to be procured, we had to take it as it was. Pat, as before,
pronounced it "mighty foine." Though it evidently did him good, he
showed no inclination to get up and exert himself. To my regret,
indeed, I found that he was still very weak, and had not entirely
recovered his senses.

I had, therefore, to make up my mind to stay in the hut another day. To
leave him in that state was impossible, and I was scarcely in a fit
condition to set out alone, though I should have done so had I not found
him.

The weather was tolerably warm, and the snow was diminishing in depth,
though where it went to it was difficult to say.

Pat, evidently getting better as the day drew on, I took his gun and
went out in the hopes of finding some game to replenish our larder. The
constant attack I made on the lynx to supply our broth-pot had greatly
diminished the flesh on the body. The first night I had kept it inside
the hut; but it becoming not over pleasant, I afterwards fastened it to
a cross-piece between two high poles, out of the reach of wolves.

I was not afraid of meeting my old enemy in the daytime, as by slipping
a bullet into my gun I could quickly have disposed of him. I went
sometimes into the wood, and at others kept along just outside it; but
no animals of any description could I meet with, though I fancied I saw
some deer in the