harp
reports resounded from the river bank, a few paces on the east. Three
or four of the wolves howled and fell. The rest hesitated, their eyes
glistening, and fixed on Joe's suspended boots. "Come quick! for
Heaven's sake! I can't pull up my legs any more!" cried Joe. This was
true, for his strength was fast failing. The guns were again
discharged with deadly effect, and all but one of the largest of the
wolves precipitately ran off, and disappeared among the bushes.

"Jerk up your leg! that feller's a going to take one of your feet
along with him, if he kin!" cried Sneak. Joe saw the wolf charging
upon him, but he was altogether unable to avoid it in the manner he
had done before. It was now only a few feet distant, its mouth open,
displaying a frightful set of teeth, and springing towards him.
Finding it impossible to prevent a collision, Joe resolved to sell his
foot as dearly as possible. As much as he was able, he bent up his
knee-joints, and when his assailant came, he bestowed his heels upon
his head with all his might. The wolf was stunned, and fell under the
blow.

"Take that!" cried Sneak, running up and plunging his knife into the
animal's side. The wolf groaned and died.

"Ha! ha! ha! you were born to be hanged," said Roughgrove, coming
forward with Boone and Glenn, and laughing heartily.

"He has been hung," said Boone.

"And almost quartered," said Glenn.

[Illustration: They sprang up with fearful snarls and yells. Joe
yelled likewise, and doubled his knees up to his chin.--P. 136]

"Oh, goodness! Jump up here, Sneak, and cut me loose," said Joe,
beseechingly.

"There's no danger of you ever dying," said Sneak.

"Oh, please don't laugh at me, Sneak, but cut me down; that's a good
fellow. The string is beginning to cut my wrist like fury!"

"How did you git in such a fix?" continued Sneak.

"Oh, hang it, Sneak, just get me out of the fix, and I'll tell you all
about it."

"It's hung _now_--didn't you say 'hang it, Sneak?'" continued Sneak.

"Oh, come, now," continued Joe; "if you were in this way, don't you
think I'd help you?"

"Cut him down, Sneak," said Boone; and in a twinkling Sneak was up in
the tree, and the string was severed. Joe came down with great force,
his feet foremost, and running through the snow-crust to a great
depth.

"I wish some of you would help me out of this," said he, after
struggling some time in vain to extricate himself.

"You'll want me to carry you hom