p snow, and good
"slipping" along the few wildwood roads.

But three or four days later, there came a "January thaw." Rain and a
warmer temperature melted away much of the snow, the little river was
swelled to a great torrent, breaking up the ice and carrying it down
stream, and the roads became almost impassable. When the week was up
and the farmer wanted the axes, it was not possible for the horse to
travel, and after waiting vainly for a day or two for a turn in the
weather, Evan was posted off on foot to obtain the needed implements.
Delighting in the change and excitement of such a trip, the boy
started before noon, expecting to reach home again ere dark, as it was
not considered quite safe to journey far by night on account of the
wolves.

Three miles below, at a narrow place in the river, was the bridge,
consisting of three very long tree-trunks reaching parallel from bank
to bank, and covered with hewn plank. When Evan arrived here he found
that this bridge had been swept away. But pushing on down stream
among the thickets, about half a mile below, he came upon an immense
ice-jam, stretching across the stream and piled many feet high. Upon
this he at once resolved to make his way over to the road on the
other side, for he was already wearied threading the underbrush. Grand
River, which is a narrow but deep and violent stream, ran roaring
and plunging beneath the masses of ice as if enraged at being so
obstructed; but the lad picked his path in safety and soon stood on
the opposite bank.

Away he hurried now to the blacksmith's, so as to complete his errand
and return by this precarious crossing before dark.

But the smith had neglected his duty and Evan had to wait an hour or
more for the axes. At length they were done, and with one tied at each
end of a strong cord and this hung about his neck, he was off on the
homeward trip. To aid his walking, he procured from the thicket a
stout cane. He had hardly gone two miles when the duskiness gathering
in the woods denoted the nearness of night; yet as the moon was riding
high, he pushed on without fear.

[Illustration: HOMEWARD. SAFELY INTRENCHED.]

But as he was skirting a wind-fall of trees, he came suddenly upon two
or three wolves apparently emerging from their daytime hiding place
for a hunting expedition. Evan was considerably startled; but as
they ran off into the woods as if afraid of him, he took courage in
the hope that they would not molest him. In