the shore, and already their eyes are gleaming in
triumph, and their mouths are watering for their prey. Quick as a flash
he turns, and so do they. Well is it now that the sturdy lad, on his
native lochs in Scottish winters, had practiced every movement, and had
become an adept in twisting and rapid turning on his skates. He will
need it all to-night, as well as the hardened muscles of his vigorous
sports since he came to this wild North Land; for the wolves will not
easily be balked in their efforts to capture and then devour. The very
fact of there being four of them seemed at first in his favour, as the
instant they turned they appeared to get in each other's way. In the
brief delay thus caused Alec was away and was increasing his speed every
instant. But he is not to be let off so easily. Looking behind, he
sees that two are coming on in their long, galloping, speedy way. Where
are the other two? Soon enough will he know.

As we have stated, this little river was very crooked. The cunning
wolves well knew this, and so a couple of them made a short cut through
the woods, to intercept their prey at a spot ahead of him. As an
inspiration, the quick-witted lad took in the situation. He had heard
much already about the cunning of these grey wolves in hunting in relays
the moose and other species of deer, and by having some of their numbers
sent on ahead or stationed in narrow defiles to intercept their prey.
So, suspecting the trap being laid for him, he made up his mind, if
possible, to reach that danger point before those wolves. It was a long
sweep around, like a horse shoe, and he had to make the whole distance
round, while they had but to cross the tongue of land. He had to
traverse at least twice the distance that the wolves had to go, but then
he had the advantage in being on the ice, while they had to loup through
the snow. Still, there were no risks to be taken. For an instant the
thoughts came, as he heard the faint thud, thud on the ice of the fleet
wolves behind him. What if anything should happen to my skates? Or if
I should get in a crack in the ice? But he quickly banished these
thoughts as unworthy. He had all confidence in the splendid skates on
his feet, and saw with delight that he was emerging from the last place
where the trees entirely hid the bright moonlight. Every crack and
dangerous place could now be easily seen and guarded against.

On and on he fairly flew. The wolves, i