rom that from which the howls of the wolves came to her.

Suddenly to one side appeared a slinking, gray form, which slunk along,
apparently dodging behind the trees, but following her.

As it came from behind a tree in fair sight, she swung her rifle to her
shoulder and fired.

It was a strike, for the wolf, with a howl of pain sprang in the air,
then rolled over on the snow and lay still.

As the report of the shot reverberated back from the mountains, it was
followed by a perfect crescendo of wolf howls.

They sounded louder and nearer now, and Stella's heart began to beat
rapidly with fear.

Too well she knew what would happen if they caught her.

But suddenly a thought came to her, and she stopped.

Surely Ted and the boys would come to find her. They might even now be
on the way, and who could say they were not far away?

If she could only send them a message to let them know that they were on
the right trail!

Her face lighted up with an inspiration. She had the means.

Breaking a stick from a low-growing tree, she began to write in the
snow:

"I am followed by a wolf pack. Hurry." "Stella"

These were the words she left behind her for Ted to read should he come
that way.

Then she hurried on with all speed.

Every few minutes the howls of the wolves assailed her ears as she
struggled on through the snow.

Her burden of food was becoming very heavy, and she cast away a part of
it.

Perhaps, she thought, it would serve to stop the wolves for a while when
they found it on her trail.

Every moment seemed to bring the cries of the wolves nearer.

They were following in her footsteps now, for the noise was all behind
her, not scattered over the forest, as it had been at first.

The brutes had gathered into a pack, and Stella shuddered as she
pictured in her mind the gray band coming upon her with long, loping,
tireless strides; with red, long, lolling tongues and slavering,
sharp-fanged jaws.

Presently she heard another noise behind her, and looked over her
shoulder.

The sight that met her eyes caused her to almost faint.

Not twenty yards behind her was an enormous gray wolf, loping along
easily but as swiftly as a horse.

His eyes were blazing like green lamps, and his great body was scarred
and torn. Evidently he was the king of the pack.

Stopping suddenly, she drew her revolver and fired two shots at him.

He came to a halt with a snarl of rage and began biting at his shoulder.