nd within a radius of half a mile. Some had been killed instantly,
and so lay just where they fell. Others, mortally wounded, had managed
to crawl away quite a distance ere they died. But of all those that in
any way had been singed or burnt by the fire not one had been torn or
mangled by the survivors. However, such had been the effects of the
fire upon them that their skins were valueless as fur, and so they were
left undisturbed where they had fallen.

A good breakfast was ready for them all when they returned to the camp.
Soon after it was over the sleds were again loaded, the dogs harnessed,
and the journey once more resumed.

It had been a memorable night for the boys. They had remained cool and
collected, but alert and watchful. The conduct of the dogs rather
humiliated and disappointed them. Why some of them should act so
cowardly, and so tremble at the howlings of the wolves, was to them a
mystery and an annoyance. They, however, stoutly declared that their
own young trains growled, and even barked back their defiance, when the
howlings of the wolves were most severe. At the resting place where
they stopped for dinner they had quite a discussion on the subject. Sam
confessed that he had been eager to let the dogs loose and then urge
them on to the attack. At this candid confession Mr Ross was much
amused, and said that when a boy, long ago, travelling with his father
and some Indians, one night in a camp where they were bothered by the
howlings of some wolves he, against their advice, urged his own splendid
train of young dogs to the attack. Only three of them managed to get
back to the camp, and they were in such a wounded, torn condition that
they were worth but little for weeks. The fourth one had been devoured
by the wolves.

"As one result," added Mr Ross, "I had to walk or run on snowshoes the
rest of the long journey home, and as it was over a hundred miles I
often wished I had not been so eager to set my dogs on a number of great
northern wolves."

"What do you think would have happened," said Alec, "if Sam had set the
three trains we boys are driving on to those wolves that attacked us
last night?"

"I think," said Mr Ross, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, "that
there would have been seen along here somewhere three tired, down-
hearted boys trudging along on snowshoes and mourning the loss of twelve
splendid dogs."

"Well," said Frank, "I am glad we did not get up a wolf fight, f