they
were in full flight up the rugged pathway leading from the basin, hotly
pursued by their mysterious enemy.

The latter seemed to pass directly through the fire, scattering its
blazing brands to all sides. At the same time he snatched up a flaming
timber for use as a weapon against such of the panic-stricken savages
as still remained within reach.

The flashes of light that accompanied the apparition, while
illuminating all nearby objects, had left it shrouded in darkness, and
only when it crouched for an instant above the fire did Cabot gain a
clear glimpse of the gigantic form. To his dismay it appeared to be a
great beast with a human resemblance. It had the gleaming teeth, the
horrid jaws, the sharp ears, in fact the face and head of a wolf, the
tawny mane of a lion, and was covered with thick fur; but it stood
erect and used its arms like a man. At the same time, the sounds
issuing from its throat seemed a combination of incoherent human cries
and wolfish howlings. Cabot only saw it for a moment, and then it was
gone, leaping up the pathway, whirling the blazing timber above its
head, and darting its mysterious lightning flashes after the flying
Indians.

As the clamour of flight and pursuit died away, to be followed by a
profound silence, there came a muffled call:

"Cabot. Cabot Grant."

"Hello!" shouted our lad. "Who is it? Where are you?"

"It is I, White," came the barely heard answer. "I am here in the
cabin. Can't you come and let me out?"

"No," replied Cabot. "I am tied hand and foot."

"So am I. Are you wounded?"

"No. Are you?"

"No. What are the Indians doing?"

"Running for dear life from a Labrador devil--half wolf and half
man--armed with soundless thunder-bolts."

During the short silence that followed, White meditated upon this
extraordinary statement, and decided that his comrade's brain must be
affected by his sufferings.

"If I could only twist out of these ropes," he groaned, and then he
began again a struggle to free his hands from their bonds. At the same
time Cabot, who had long since discovered the futility of such effort,
was anxiously listening, and wondering what would happen next.

With all his listening he did not hear the soft approach of furred
footsteps, and when a blinding light was flashed full in his face he
was so startled that he cried out with terror. Instantly the light
vanished, and he shuddered as he realised that the furry monster had