had never had any experience in thus entering the den of
a wolf with young ones. All he knew about it he had heard from the lips
of others, or possibly read. Somehow, just then it flashed through his
mind how history told of Israel Putnam, afterwards a celebrated general
in the Continental Army, crawling into a wolf's den as a youth, and
fetching the animal out, after a severe fight; but so far as Thad could
remember, that was not a mother wolf; and Israel had an easy time
compared to what it might have been under different conditions.

Well, there was their intended quarry; and with two guns to depend on,
surely they ought to make quick work of the beast. The only difficulty
about it was the treacherous light, for the lantern flickered in the
draught; though until that critical moment Thad had paid no attention
to this fact.

"Have you a bead on her head, Aleck?" he whispered; at the same time
himself drawing his gun up to his shoulder and glancing along the
double barrel; for Thad was of course carrying his Marlin with him at
the time.

"Yes," came the answer.

"I'm going to count, slowly and evenly. When I say three, let go,
Aleck!"

"I understand, Thad."

"All right. Hope we get her, sure. I'd hate to be bitten, or clawed by
such a mad creature. Here goes, Aleck! One!"

"Yes."

"Two!"

A second passed, and then came the word:

"Three!"

It was drowned in a tremendous, deafening crash, as both guns were
discharged so closely together that it made one report.

Thad of course had a second barrel to hold in reserve. He had more or
less difficulty in seeing through the thin curtain of powder smoke that
followed the double discharge; but at least no sprawling figure came
flying at them, with snapping jaws that were eager to rend and tear.

"She's done for, Thad!" exclaimed Aleck, joyfully, as they heard a
commotion beyond, and could see something moving with short jerks,
like an animal kicking its last.

"Wait--hold on till I pick up the lantern; she may only be wounded,
and get you, if you don't look out. Besides, those cubs are partly
grown, and may be big enough to show fight."

Thad thus held his comrade back for a brief time until he could snatch
up the light, and take his place in the van, which was really what he
wanted to do.

As they approached the spot where a dark bundle lay, they could still
see something of a movement.

"She isn't dead yet, I'm afraid, Thad," cried Aleck, who had a
si