the river and made
towards the wood. I stirred up the snow in a way which I knew would
puzzle the Indians, and then treading backwards on my footmarks, I once
more reached the river.

Then away I went up the stream over the smooth ice as hard as I could
run. Now and then I tumbled down, but I quickly picked myself up again,
and was off as fast as ever. When a man believes that a body of
red-skins or a pack of wolves are at his heels, he is likely to run
pretty fast. I sat down once for breakfast for five minutes, and once
at noon for dinner of raw rice and wolves' ribs, and away I went again.
At last I found that the river was making so many bends that it would be
necessary to land, which I did on the north shore. Night came on, but I
did not relax my speed; the stars came out and guided me as before. I
was beginning, however, to feel much distressed. I bore up as well as I
could, but I fancied that I could not continue my course much beyond the
morning, even if I could go through the night. I came to some bushes
growing above the snow; they would afford me shelter from the wind, and
I might, I thought, venture to rest for half an hour or so. I should
have wished to light a fire, but I dared not, lest the smoke might
betray me.

I sat down and began searching in my bag for some food, when a distant
and faint cry struck my ear. I listened; again I heard it. I knew too
well what it was. The cry of a pack of wolves. Could they have gained
scent of me and be following in my rack? The bare thought of such a
thing made me start up, and again set forth at full speed. For what I
knew to the contrary, I had both wolves and Indians following me. The
wolves were gaining on me, that was certain. I could distinguish the
yelps and barks through the still midnight. They might yet be some way
off. I tried to pierce through the gloom ahead in the hopes of seeing
some clump of trees rising out of the snowy plain in which I might take
shelter. On I ran. It, at all events, would not do to stay where I
was. The sound of those horrid yelps, if anything had been required to
make me exert myself would have added fleetness to my feet. I longed
for day; I thought they would be less likely to attack me. For a whole
hour I ran on, I believe. It seemed more like three or four with those
dreadful sounds ringing in my ears. I thought they were coming nearer
and nearer. At last I saw some object rising up before me in the