e trail to pack it down. The horses made heavy going of it, but we got
there at last, and glad enough I was to get inside the shack that served
as the general store and warm my half frozen hands and feet at the red
hot stove.

"After I was comfortable once more I made my purchases, and after loading
them into the sleigh said good-by to the boys and started out on the
return journey.

"It was a mighty long trip for the horses, but they were a young team,
full of fire and life, and I thought we could make back the same day
without much trouble. And likely enough we would have, with time to
spare, if it hadn't started to snow; lightly at first, but getting
thicker all the time. The horses had started out toward home at a brisk
trot, but they gradually slowed down to a walk, and once or twice I had
to stop them altogether to let them gather fresh strength.

"What with the slow going and the stops, dusk overtook us while we were
still some eight or ten miles from the camp. It couldn't have been later
than four o'clock, but the short winter's day was even at that time
drawing to a close, and the falling snow made it darker still.

"But no thought of danger entered my head, and I merely swore a little
at the prospect of a late supper, for I was cold and hungry. Suddenly,
however, the danger of my position was brought home to me in a very
sudden manner. Away in the distance I heard the long drawn wolf-howl,
than which I firmly believe there is no more blood-curdling sound in
existence. The horses pricked up their ears nervously and hastened their
lagging pace, and I myself felt a thrill go up my spine. It was not many
seconds before the first howl was answered by a second, and then a third.

"'A little faster, my beauties,' I said to the horses, 'we're not so far
from home now, and it's up to us to get there pretty pronto.'

"The faithful beasts seemed to understand my words, and strained forward
in the harness. The snow had stopped by this time, but was pretty deep,
and the sleigh was heavy. After trotting forward at a brisk pace for a
way they dropped back into a walk again.

"By now the howls had merged into a general chorus, and looking back over
the great expanse of open country over which we were traveling I could
see numerous black specks traveling swiftly toward us, becoming larger
every second.

"I saw that I was in a mighty tight place, so got out my Winchester
repeater and made sure that it was loaded. Then I