r we begin, the sooner it'll be
over!"

Wild with passion, the boy fought with the false strength that is always
the accompaniment of delirium. As the blows told, the wolves howled and
shrieked and leapt for him with a rage that was equally frantic to his.
Fortunately they kept to one side--that was the side from which the moon
shone. They could see him plainer thus. Otherwise the light would be in
their eyes, and he but a black figure that they could not understand.

How he fought that night!

Strange to say, all fatigue had left the lad's body. He had the
endurance of three normal boys--at least it seemed thus, though we never
know our real strength, muscular or mental, until we are in the straits
of desperation.

More than once he received a nasty little snap in the arm. But these
were unnoticed in the heat of the combat. His eyes were "seeing red," as
the Westerners say. He had no nerves to feel with; only muscles to fight
with. And all the time the impromptu club was in action--sometimes
swinging like a flail, at other times being gripped for a no less
effective thrust with the butt.

But gradually the attack became perceptibly easier, as the wolves were
beaten back or slain by the ceaseless swing of the rifle. Bob recognised
the weakening of the assault, and the spirit of the conqueror fired his
blood to renewed energy.

Baulked of his prey, a great timber dog sprang forward with
determination to vindicate the honour of his kind.

Crash went the weapon, a single howl escaped from the savage creature,
then he fell back, quivering and lifeless, upon the ground.

That was the end of the conflict. Their last leader slain, the others
turned tail and fled.

Arnold stood firm on the defensive. His hair was soaked in sweat, his
clothes were torn in many places, and he could feel the sharp sting of a
wound in his shoulder. It was some time before he could believe that the
fight was indeed over. The change from storm to calm had been sudden;
and it was only when he understood that strength was no longer needed
that he began to feel the evidences of fatigue. His limbs began to
tremble with the reaction as the unnatural strength that had buoyed him
so well now commenced to ebb. He looked around him. The signs of his
conquest were visible in the moonlight as dark lumps lying here and
there. Then his keen eyes began to haze and his head to swim. And for
the second time that night he sank to the ground in a state of