n farther from the camp than we had intended. As
the sun set, the wind began to blow colder than before, and clouds to
gather in the sky. Alick exclaimed that we must return as fast as our
legs could carry us.

Before we had got far, down came the snow, and with good reason we began
to fear that we should be unable to retrace our steps. As long as we
had sufficient light Alick's compass guided us, and we had taken the
last glance at it, and were scarcely able to distinguish in what
direction the needle pointed, when we caught sight of the tent, and
heard Pat's voice shouting loudly to us.

We hurried on, thankful that we had not been benighted; but Pat, instead
of welcoming us, as we expected, stood in front of the tent wringing his
hands.

"What's the matter, Pat?" asked Alick.

"Shure! matther enough, Misther Alick dear," he answered. "Just afther
you went away, Bouncer and I caught sight of a deer, far off over the
snow. Says I to Bouncer, `We'll have that deer;' and off we set, making
sure that we should come up to him before long. Instead of stopping to
be shot, however, the baste took to its heels. To make a long story
short, though we followed for many a mile, it got away afther all. Now
comes the worst part of the business. As we drew near to the tent I
heard a loud yelling, and what should I see but a pack of hungry wolves
tearing away at my sledge with all the bear's mate on it, and by the
time I got up not a scrap was left--bad luck to the bastes. Och! shure,
shure, what shall we be afther doing?"

We cast blank looks at each other, and Bouncer hung down his head, as if
he had been the cause of our loss. Alick could not blame Pat, though he
regretted that he did not give him a strict charge on no account to
leave the camp.

After our long chase we were desperately hungry, but had not a morsel to
eat. There was no use repining, however, and we hoped that we might
have better fortune the next day.

Supperless we turned into our little tent, to try to overcome our hunger
by sleep. An occasional growl from Bouncer showed us that the wolves
were still near.

As we had no breakfast to cook, the next morning we started as soon as
there was daylight sufficient to enable us to pack up our tent. Not a
trace of a deer did we see the next day; had any passed that way, the
snow must have obliterated their footmarks.

The second night was approaching, and we had no food. We came to some
hills wit