struck him. Seizing
the thick sheep-skin which covered the sleigh, he threw it over his
head. Scarcely had he done so when the wolf sprang upon his back, and
gripped hold of the skin. In an instant more it would have been torn
from him, when, raising both his hands, he grasped the wolf's head and
neck with all his strength, hugging him with an iron clutch to his
shoulders. "On--on!" he shouted to the almost paralysed driver. The
courageous fellow still holding his fierce assailant in a death-gripe,
the sleigh swept into the village. The inhabitants, hearing the shouts,
rushed forth from their huts, and seeing the perilous condition of their
friends, gave chase with axes in their hands. No sooner had the boy
slackened the speed of his horses, than the men rushed at the savage
animal, still held captive, and quickly despatched it. Not without
difficulty, however, could the brave peasant, after the exertion he had
undergone, loosen his arms from the neck of the wolf.

THE TAME OTTER.

The otter, although not so expert an architect as the beaver, appears to
possess more sagacity. A fine one, caught in Scotland, became so tame,
that whenever it was alarmed it would spring for protection into the
arms of its master.

It had also been taught to fish for his benefit; and so dexterous was it
at this sport, that it would catch several fine salmon during the day,
in a stream near his house. It could fish as well in salt water as in
fresh. Bravely it would buffet the waves of the ocean, and swim off in
chase of cod-fish, of which it would in a short time catch large
numbers.

When fatigued by its exertions, nothing would induce it to re-enter the
water. On such occasions it received a part of the produce of the sport
for its own share; and after having satisfied itself, it would fall
asleep, and was generally in that condition carried home, to resume its
labours on another day.

Though you may be very young and small, you may, if you try, help those
much older and bigger than yourself.

THE OTTER AND HER YOUNG ONES.

I have another story about an otter, which lived in the Zoological
Gardens in London. The otter-pond, surrounded by a wall, was on one
occasion only half-full of water, when the otter for whose use it was
intended had a pair of young ones. They, happening to fall into the
water, were unable to climb up its steep sides. The mother, afraid that
they would be drowned, endeavoured in vain, by stoopi