k, after they
had walked a few moments in silence.

"Here it is," said Joe, unwrapping a paper containing several ounces;
"but hang me, if that ain't rather too strong a joke of Mr. Boone's
about its collecting the wolves. I can't believe that."

"Did you ever hear of Mr. Boone's telling a lie?" asked Sneak.

"No, I never did, and that's a fact," said Joe; "but I'm afraid he's
got into a scrape this time--Jingo! look yonder!" he continued,
throwing his musket up to his face, and pointing it at a very large
black wolf that stood in the path before them.

"Don't shoot! I put two loads in your gun," cried Sneak, hastily.

"Confound your long-necked gourd-head, I say!" said Joe, throwing down
the muzzle of his musket in an instant, and the next moment the wolf
disappeared among the tall bushes. "Why, hang me, if you didn't tell a
lie!" continued Joe, running down his ramrod.

"Don't I know it?" replied Sneak. "I jest said so to keep you from
shooting; becaise if you had shot, you'd 'ave skeered all the other
wolves away, and we wouldn't 'ave killed any."

"It's well you didn't put in another cartridge," said Joe, "for I wish
I may be smashed if I stand this kicking business any longer."

"Now, I guess you'll believe there's something in the asafoetida,
after all! and the wolves'll come all round you and won't go off for
shooting at 'em, if you'll only rub it on the soles of your boots."

"I'll try it!" said Joe, suiting the action to the word, and then
striding onward, and looking in every direction for the wolves.

"You'll have to tree, if they come too thick."

"Pshaw!" replied Joe, "you can't scare me in that way. I don't believe
a hat full of it would make them stand and be shot at."

They were now opposite the island. Joe selected a position even with
the upper end of it, and Sneak remained below. Boone, after stationing
Roughgrove and Glenn to the best advantage, walked out to the
main-land, and taking some of the gum fetid in Joe's possession,
returned to the island; and, ere long, he, Roughgrove, and Glenn were
heard discharging their guns with great rapidity, and the cries of the
wolves attested that they were labouring with effect. But none of the
beleaguered animals had yet retreated from the scene of destruction.
On the contrary, several were seen to run across from the main-land
and join those on the island. Presently Sneak commenced a brisk fire.
There seemed to be a whole army of wolves congregat