enison, and attempted
to make off with it.

The wolves took this move for cowardice, and were emboldened. With a
chorus of howls they closed in. The struggle that ensued was simply
terrific. The catamount seemed to be everywhere at once. Its long, lithe
body performed countless revolutions.

"Hurrah!" cried Brick, in great excitement. "This beats the old Roman
shows. Do you think the catamount will be killed?"

"Not likely," replied Jerry, "but he'll lose the meat. There are too
many against him."

"That's so," exclaimed Hamp. "Look, fellows, look!"

Just then the catamount leaped clear over his circle of tormentors. With
a screech of baffled fury he bounded into the bushy limbs of a tall pine
tree. He made his way into an adjoining tree, and then vanished.

Three wolves lay struggling in their death agonies on the snow. Here and
there limped crippled ones. The rest of the pack sprang at the venison
with teeth and claws.

They muttered and yowled as they bit off great mouthfuls. New arrivals
came swarming from the forest. Soon more than a score of the gaunt
brutes were assembled around the carcass.

The bones of the deer were soon polished cleanly. Then the famished
creatures attacked the bodies of their comrades. Tiring of this
cannibalistic meal, they swerved to the edge of the glade, sniffed the
air for a moment, and came leaping down the bank of the ravine. The
patter of their feet was instantly all around the cabin. They brushed
against the sides, and scratched at the interstices of the beams,
howling and yelping like a troop of demons.

So sudden was the attack that the besieged lads were taken by complete
surprise.

"We'll be torn to pieces," cried Brick. "They'll be through the door in
a minute."

"No they won't," yelled. Jerry.

He hurled himself against the sled, which had actually begun to move.

"Keep cool, boys," he added. "It's our only chance. Fire away, and make
every shot tell."

Then he poked his rifle under the doorway, and pulled the trigger. The
report was followed by a yelp of agony. The wolves fell back a little.
They had a wholesome fear of firearms.

Jerry reloaded his rifle, and jammed shells into his double-barreled
shotgun.

"I'll guard this end," he yelled, hoarsely. "You fellows must take care
of that."

"It's an ugly outlook," replied Hamp. "Here are your two guns, Brick.
Keep them loaded. We've got four between us--six with Jerry's. But
where's the ammunition?"