thers. Unless they run off, we may give a good account of the whole
pack."

As he finished speaking I fired, followed by Uncle Mark and the other
men; and, as the result, four wolves rolled over dead. The rest of
them, however, disappointed us by turning tail and scampering off to a
safe distance, from whence only their howls reached us. Uncle Mark,
however, did not consider it prudent to follow them. Indeed, had they
heard us approaching they would probably have retreated out of shot; for
wolves, though they will follow a fugitive, like other savage animals,
will generally try to escape when pursued. So, having secured the skins
of those we had killed, although they were of no great value, we
returned homewards.

After this we had alternately rain and frost, with a few fine days, till
the snow came down, and the winter commenced in earnest. But we were
all pretty well inured to it. Indeed, except when the wind blew, we
were in the habit of hewing in the forest with our coats off; and even
then we often found it hot work.

Mike came back one day from the settlement--where he had been sent for a
few stores and powder and shot--with the information that a party of
lumberers had commenced operations some miles up a river which ran into
the great lake, and that the "boss" had sent a ganger to hire hands,
more of whom were wanted.

"A few dollars of ready cash would be very acceptable," observed Uncle
Mark. "What say you, Roger? We'll start away, and spend a month or so
with them. We can take Mike with us, while Quambo will look after the
hut, the cattle, and pigs."

I was ready, of course; and so, as my uncle was a man of action, he
determined to set off the next morning. We were all good skaters; and
although, during the first part of our journey, we should be unable to
make use of our skates, we settled to carry them with us.

At daybreak, then, we were up, and having taken breakfast, were ready to
start,--our provisions consisting of flour-cakes and cold pork, with a
pot and pannikins. Mike also carried his fiddle hung around his neck.

"It will help to amuse the gossoons--and maybe put a few dollars in my
pocket," he remarked with a wink. "Bedad! I'll keep their feet going,
when the work is over for the day, and they are afther sharpening their
axes."

We had but one gun with us, which Mike carried, as we wished to travel
with as little encumbrance as possible.

But just as we were starting off,