asafoetida does charm them, after all. Confound
Sneak! he's always getting me into some hobble or other! Now, if it
wasn't for this tree, I'd be in a nice fix. Hang it! all the wolves in
the world are broke loose to-day, surely--where the mischief could
they all have come from? Just hear the men, how they are shooting! And
they are killing the wild black dogs every crack--but still they won't
back out! I'll blaze away at 'em again!" Saying this, he reloaded his
musket as quickly as his peculiar position would allow, and, for the
purpose of ridding himself as soon as possible of his disagreeable
visitors, he poured in an additional charge of buckshot. "Now," he
continued, "what if the gun should fly out of my hands? I'd be in a
pretty condition then! I wouldn't mind the kick at all, if I was only
on dry land--but if the gun should kick me over here, I'd tumble right
down into their mouths! I wish I'd thought of that before I rammed
down the wadding. I haven't got my screw along, or I might draw out
the load again. I'll not shoot at all. I'll just watch till somebody
comes and scares them away. Ugh! you black rascal! what're you staring
up here for?" he continued, looking down at the largest wolf, which
was standing upright against the tree, and tearing the bark away
furiously with his long teeth. The number of Joe's enemies continued
to increase. There were now perhaps twenty under the tree. And still
the firing on the island was kept up, though not so incessantly as at
first, which inspired Joe with a hope that they would either kill all
the wolves in their vicinity very soon or force them to join his flock
under the tree, when the men would surely come to his relief. Sneak's
fire abated somewhat, likewise, and Joe's reliance upon having their
aid in a very short time caused his fears to subside in a great
measure.

"If you're so crazy after asafoetida," said he, looking down at the
fiercely staring animals again, "I'll give you a taste, just to see
what you'll do." He took a small portion of the gum which he had
retained, and rubbed it over a piece of paper that he found in his
pocket. He then dropped the paper in their midst. They sprang upon it
simultaneously, and in an instant it vanished, Joe knew not whither.
"Hang me, if I couldn't pepper a half-dozen at a shot when they all
rush up together so close, if I wasn't afraid of being kicked down.
I'll be teetotally smashed if I don't fix and try it, any how!" said
h