me out, they
pressed them against the sides of the tent in their endeavours to find
an entrance. I looked for the biggest bump, and took aim with my
revolver. There was a loud snarl and cry, and then a shrieking and
howling as the horrid pack scampered off into the distance. I had to
get up and patch the hole made by my bullet, but I did not look out to
see what had become of the wolf I had hit. I heard the animals howling
away the livelong night in the distance. They did not, however, venture
back again that night.

I had now been ten days alone, as I knew by a small bag I kept, into
which I every day, when I awoke, put a bean. I should completely have
lost all count of time without some such contrivance. The cold was
becoming very bitter; still my health was improving, and I felt myself
stronger than I had been since I was wounded. The perfect rest had
tended to cure me. I thought that I would get up and walk about, to
recover more completely the use of my limbs. It was necessary to
replenish my stock of water before the stream was completely frozen
over, as snow-water is not considered wholesome for a continuance. I
had plenty of clothes and skins, and I required them, for a piercing
wind blew across the wild prairie, which, unless thus protected, I could
not have faced. The exercise did me good. I now went out every day,
constantly returning to feed my fire and to warm myself. I replenished
my stock of water, and got a further supply of wood, that I might not
run short of that necessary article. I was most concerned about my
provisions, which were diminishing sadly. I therefore always took my
rifle out with me, in the hopes of getting a shot at a stray buffalo or
deer going south, but all had gone; none passed near me. The woods,
too, were now deserted; not a bird was to be seen; even the snakes and
the 'coons had hid themselves in their winter habitations. A dead
silence reigned over the whole country during the day. I wish it had
equally reigned during the night. Daylight and the smoke of my fire
kept the wolves away, but night after night they came back and howled as
before. I used at last to sleep some hours every day, and sit up all
night with my pistols by my side, ready to shoot them. Now and then the
grinning jaws of one of them would force its way in at the entrance of
the tent. I seldom passed a night without killing one or two of these
intruders. I every morning cut off what I tho