herring's the thing."

"No, sir, a piece of red cloth would do better," replied the courier.

"Red cloth! One would think you were fishing for mackerel," replied
McShane.

"Will this piece of black cloth do, which was round the lock of the
gun?" said Joey.

"Yes, I think it will," replied the courier.

The courier made fast the cloth to the end of the twine, and throwing it
clear of the carriage, let the ball run out, until he had little more
than the bare end in his hand, and the cloth was about forty yards
behind the carriage, dragging over the snow.

"They will not pass the cloth, sir," said the courier; "they think that
it's a trap."

Sure enough the wolves, which had been gaining fast on the carriage, now
retreated again; and although they continued the pursuit, it was at a
great distance.

"We have an hour and a half more to go before we arrive, and it will be
dark, I'm afraid," said the courier; "all depends upon the horse holding
out; I'm sure the pack is not far behind."

"And how many are there in a pack?" inquired McShane.

The courier shrugged up his shoulders. "Perhaps two or three hundred."

"Oh! the devil! Don't I wish I was at home with Mrs McShane."

For half an hour they continued their rapid pace, when the horse
referred to showed symptoms of weakness. Still the wolves had not
advanced beyond the piece of black cloth which trailed behind the
carriage.

"I think that, considering that they are so hungry, they are amazing shy
of the bait," said McShane. "By all the powers, they've stopped again!"

"The string has broke, sir, and they are examining the cloth," cried
Joey.

"Is there much line left?" inquired the courier, with some alarm.

"No, it has broken off by rubbing against the edge of the carriage
behind."

The courier spoke to the driver, who now rose from his seat and lashed
his horses furiously; but although three of the horses were still fresh,
the fourth could not keep up with them, and there was every prospect of
his being dragged down on his knees, as more than once he stumbled and
nearly fell. In the meantime the wolves had left the piece of cloth
behind them, and were coming up fast with the carriage.

"We must fire on them now, sir," said the courier, going back to his
seat, "or they will tear the flanks of the horses."

McShane and Joey seized their guns, the headmost wolf was now nearly
ahead of the carriage; Joey fired, and the animal rolled over in the