ee! but it's going to be one awful night," cried Fred.

"You've said it!" returned Randy. Then, of a sudden, he gave a start.
"What's that?" he ejaculated.

What he referred to was a long mournful howl which arose on the
storm-laden air. This howl was followed by another, and then by a third.

"It's wolves!" cried Fred.

"Look! Look!" ejaculated Andy. "Look out there, will you? A whole pack
of wolves!"

"Yes, and they're coming right for the house!" wailed Stowell. "Shut
that door quick, or they'll jump in on us!"

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MAN IN THE GREY OVERCOAT

"Don't shut the door!" cried Randy. "Remember, Gif and Jack are
outside."

"Hello out there!" yelled Spouter, hobbling to the door in the
excitement. "Beware of the wolves!"

Whether his voice carried to Jack and Gif through the storm they could
not tell. Then came another howl from the wolves, this time in concert,
and suddenly two of the slinking forms appeared close to the open door.
The eyes of the beasts appeared so baneful to the cadets that they
quickly slammed the barrier shut and bolted it.

"But we can't leave Jack and Gif out there!" cried Fred. "Remember! they
are unarmed."

"Get the guns!" ordered Spouter. "Hurry up! We'll give those wolves all
they are looking for."

He hobbled across the floor to his own weapon, resting against the wall
in a corner, and looked to see if it was loaded. The others also made a
wild dash to arm themselves.

In the meanwhile the howls of the wolves kept increasing. Two more of
the beasts had come up close to the Lodge, so that the total number was
now five.

"Oh, oh! do you think they'll break into the house and eat us up?"
wailed Stowell.

"If they break in they'll get one mighty warm reception," answered Andy.
"Come on! let us open that door and go after them," he continued boldly.

Now that they were armed the Rovers and Spouter felt much safer, and
they lost no time in getting back to the door which they had just
closed.

"Oh, dear! don't open the door," pleaded Stowell. "They'll jump right in
on top of us!"

"Not after we give 'em a few doses of shot," answered Spouter. "Here,
Henry, you stand behind the door along with Fred. You, Andy and Randy,
fire as soon as you catch sight of the wolves. I'll reserve my shot for
any beast that tries to enter."

"Wait!" called out Randy suddenly. "When you shoot at the wolves be sure
to aim low. Otherwise the shots may carry through the storm