g across the pine-barren, that I should in time see the light
of their fire. I, accordingly, shouldering my load of meat, set off.

The night became unusually dark, and it was with difficulty that I
avoided stumbling over fallen trunks or running against the stumps of
trees. I occasionally shouted, and several times fired off my rifle. I
should have fired oftener, but was unwilling to expend more of my
powder. I thought I was going straight forward, and had gone on for
about two hours or more, when I found my feet strike against an object
on the ground. I felt it was part of an animal. A further examination
convinced me it was the body of the deer I had killed; and I found, to
my annoyance, that I had been going in a circle, and had reached the
very spot whence I had set out. It would be useless, I felt, to make
another attempt to reach the camp, and I made up my mind to remain where
I was. I had my flint and steel, and so I searched about for broken
branches to make up a fire. I had not forgotten the risk I ran of being
bitten by a snake. I searched and searched for some time, but in the
dark I could only find a few sticks, though very likely I passed by many
which would have served my purpose.

I was thus employed, when I heard a howl at no great distance off. It
was the voice of a wolf. It was repeated by another and another. The
sounds grew nearer and nearer, until it appeared to me that a whole pack
must be collecting around me. Had I been able to make up a large fire,
I should have had no fear of the savage creatures. I threw down my
sticks, with a handful of leaves which I had picked up, and endeavoured
to strike a light; but the leaves were damp, and would not catch the
sparks I sent among them.

All this time the howling increased. The wolves were attracted, I had
no doubt, by the carcass of the deer, and they might be content with
that instead of attacking me; but when they had finished it--and it
could not last long--I thought it probable that I should become their
victim. I tried again and again to light the fire, but in vain.

The wolves now broke into loud cries and howls, and I could now
distinguish their forms as they approached the spot. I shouted at the
top of my voice, hoping to drive them off. They halted, apparently; but
the moment I was silent they again advanced. I might have shot two or
three of them, but should have expended my ammunition before I could
kill the whole pack