mmy, pointing at the wolf, "I
don't like the looks of that chap."

"He's not a beauty, but he won't do us any harm as long as he's alone,"
said Tony, who was a brave little fellow.

"But he isn't alone," cried Tommy, "I see three or four other brutes
skulking there among the trees--Push on! push on!"

It was high time, indeed, to push on, for the big wolf was drawing
nearer and nearer, and his followers seemed only to be waiting his
signal to begin the attack. As the horse, knowing his own danger,
galloped on faster, the wolves set up a hideous howl, fearful that their
prey would escape them. Tommy seized the whip from Tony and began to
lash away at them.

"If I had Rob's gun I'd pay off those brutes," cried Tony, "slash away
Tommy! keep them off! it won't be pleasant if they catch hold of us."

On went the horse; he did not think of being tired now. It was hard
work to guide him between the stumps and fallen trees. Tommy lashed and
lashed away, and shouted at the top of his voice. An overturn would
have caused their death, as the wolves would have set on them before
they had time to get upon their feet. They were coming to a bad bit of
the road where they would have to drive down some steep and rugged
places to avoid fallen logs. The wolves seemed to think that this would
be their time, for all the pack made a dash at the sleigh. Tommy lashed
with his whip with all his might. One big beast was on the point of
springing into the sleigh, and the boys, with reason, gave up all for
lost. Still, like brave fellows, they strove to the last. "Hit him
with the butt end," cried Tony.

Tommy struck the brute with all his might between the eyes. The wolf
fell back, but others were coming on. A moment afterwards two more
sprang up at the sleigh. One of them Tommy treated as he had done the
first, but the other was just seizing him by the leg, and a third was
flying at Tony, who, having to guide the horse, could not defend
himself, when a bullet whistled by and knocked over one of the animals.
The others, frightened by the report, stopped short, and Tommy had time
to hit the wolf just going to lay hold of Tony.

"Well done, youngster, well done," cried a man who just then stepped out
of the bush. "If I hadn't come just in the nick of time it would have
been the worse for you, though."

The boys saw that the man was their friend Danby Marks. Tony had hard
work to stop the frightened horse, and could not have