ness that was
remarkable in one so young.

The wolf, happily, missed the lad's throat. Instead, the white teeth
snapped shut on the thick, furry collar of his overcoat. For an instant
they stuck there, and this gave Hamp his chance.

With one hand he grabbed the wolf's shaggy breast, and pushed against
it; with the other he reached for the long hunting-knife that dangled
from his belt. He drew it from the sheath, and plunged it fiercely into
the wolf's body.

Twice, thrice the keen blade cut its way deeply through flesh and skin.
A vital part was reached at last. With a gurgling cry the brute relaxed
its hold, and slipped to one side.

Hamp rolled away from the quivering carcass, and sprang to his feet. His
clothes were thickly smeared with blood, but a scratch or two was his
sole injury.

Meanwhile, Jerry had shown equal coolness in an equally trying ordeal.
It will be remembered that he stumbled right in the path of the
advancing buck.

Doubling himself like a ball, he rolled several feet over the smooth
ice. An instant later the spot that he had just vacated was struck by
the vicious hoofs and antlers. He rolled still further, and staggered to
his feet. His rifle was out of reach, and the shelter of the shore was
equally so.

"Help! help!" he shouted. "Somebody shoot."

With the vengeful buck still at his heels, he dashed blindly toward
Brick.

Then it was that the raw New York lad showed of what sterling stuff he
was made.

He made a plucky dash between the two, and struck the savage animal with
the stock of his rifle. The blow landed on the antlers, and its only
effect was to check the buck for a few seconds. Then Brick and Jerry
fled in opposite directions to get out of reach.

The consequence was that the animal now spied Hamp, and went for him
with a savage snort. The lad had just put his knife away, and was still
a little dazed. But he realized his peril, and knew that he had not time
to pick up his rifle. At his top speed he ran blindly over the ice.

Jerry was now out of danger, and his quick wits told him the best thing
to do.

"Run faster, Hamp," he cried. "Circle around, and come back this way."

Then he made for his rifle, which lay within several yards.

Hamp heard, and was cheered. By a sudden spurt he increased his speed.
He actually gained several feet on the buck. Then, not being able to see
behind him, he made a natural error. Had he veered to the right, he
would have circled to