to distance the savage creatures; in which case, losing
sight and scent of us, they might turn off into the forest and leave the
road clear. As we went on, however, we heard their cries becoming more
and more distinct; and casting a glance over our shoulders, we saw, to
our horror, that they had already gained considerably on us; for with
their light bodies they ran very quickly over the hard-frozen snow.

Forward we dashed, faster than I had ever skated before; but nearer and
nearer grew those terrible sounds. When once, however, the wolves
reached the smooth ice, they were no longer able to run so fast as
before; still, they gradually gained on us, and we felt sure that ere
long they must be at our heels, as they were not now likely to give up
the chase.

"Never give up while life remains! Keep on, keep on, Roger!" cried
Uncle Mark. "My pistols will do for two of their leaders; our sticks
must knock over some of the others; and we must hope that the rest of
the pack will stop to devour their carcasses."

It might have been a quarter of an hour after this, although the time
appeared longer, when, looking round, I saw a dozen wolves at least
within twenty yards of us.

"We must try a dodge I have heard of," said Uncle Mark. "When they get
near us we must wheel rapidly round, and as they cannot turn on the ice
so fast as we can, we shall gain on them."

We waited until the wolves were almost up to us, then we followed the
proposed plan. The brutes, after rushing on a short distance, tried to
turn also. In doing so, those behind tumbled over their leaders, and we
skated on as before. We did this several times, until the cunning
wolves, perceiving our object, instead of turning kept straight forward.
Uncle Mark now drew one of his pistols, and as he skated round shot the
leading wolf. It rolled over dead. The next he treated in the same
manner. We then brought our sticks down on the heads of several others.

As we had expected, their followers instantly began tearing away at the
dead bodies, and this enabled us to get some distance ahead of them. I
was in hopes that they would be content with this feast, and allow us to
proceed unmolested; but before long our ears were again saluted with
their abominable howls, and we saw the survivors of the pack coming
along in full chase.

As we skated on Uncle Mark deliberately reloaded his pistols, observing,
"We shall have to play the same game over again, and I ho