ally, at close range, blew the animal's head off.

Dave's shot caused the wolf with the sheep to falter, and presently it
dropped its burden and limped away for the nearest patch of firs. As it
did this the second and the third wolf ranged up by the side of the two
young Americans. Roger fired three shots in succession and Dave fired
twice, but the animals were so quick that but little damage was done.
One beast was hit in the tail and the other in the shoulder, and this
made them extremely ugly.

Granbury Lapham had come out, but was at the sheepfold with the
mountaineer. As a consequence the two boys faced the two wolves alone.
One was sniffing at the body of the dead sheep, and now it essayed to
raise the carcass up.

"He's going to run off with that sheep!" cried Roger.

"Not if I know it!" answered Dave, and rushing closer, he took the best
aim the night afforded and blazed away. The wolf dropped the carcass,
gave a vicious snarl, and turned abruptly.

"Look out!" yelled the senator's son, and scarcely had he spoken when
the wolf was at Dave's very feet, glaring ferociously into the youth's
face. Dave wanted to fire at the animal, but only a click of the hammer
followed the pulling of the pistol's trigger.

It was a moment of peril, but Roger came to the rescue. Not to hit his
chum, he ran around to the wolf's side and blazed away twice in rapid
succession. This was too much for the wolf, and with only a grunt it
rolled over and stretched out dead.

"Good for you, Roger!" said Dave. "If you hadn't---- Look out, here
comes the other wolf!"

Dave was right: undaunted by the death of its mate, the last wolf--the
largest of the pack of four--had leaped up through the snow and
darkness. It was so hungry that the smell of blood maddened it beyond
all endurance. It leaped so close to Dave it brushed his legs, then
grabbed the sheep and began to drag the carcass rapidly through the
snow.

"He's game, I must say!" cried Roger, and reloaded his pistol, while
Dave did the same. Then came a shout from the sheepfold and the
mountaineer put in an appearance, followed by Granbury Lapham.

The man of the place was angry, for three of his best sheep had been
killed. He blazed away as soon as he saw the wolf, but his aim was
poor, and the snow, blown up by a sudden wind, almost hid the beast from
sight. Then the Englishman fired, hitting the wolf in the right hind
leg. The animal whirled savagely, dropped the sheep, gave