o hear the dull report of a gun far back in
the woods. Another shot followed, and then another.

"Something wrong," exclaimed Hamp. "Those men must be camping within a
mile or two of us."

"That's where the racket comes from," admitted Jerry. "I can't account
for it, though."

His lips framed the word murder, but he did not utter it.

"I hear something else," declared Brick; "a sort of a roaring noise. It
sounds like the wind among the trees."

All listened intently.

"There's no wind," said Jerry, in a puzzled tone, "unless there's a
hurricane coming from the west. I know now what it means. It's the
howling of wolves, fellows."

No one spoke. The assertion was too plain for denial. Nearer and louder
rose the weird, moaning sounds. Howl answered howl. The ravenous
scavengers of the forest were out on a night hunt for food.

"Yes, it is wolves," muttered Hamp. "We ought never to have crossed the
lake. The bitter weather has driven the pack down from Canada. Those
brutes we saw yesterday were part of it."

"Now they're headed this way," declared Jerry. "They must have attacked
the camp of those two men, and been driven off. That's what the shooting
meant."

"Can't we climb trees?" Brick asked.

"If we do the catamount will likely climb after us," replied Jerry.
"Keep cool, fellows. A wolf is a born coward, and hates powder. We'll
give the pack a good dose of lead if they molest us. Have your rifles
ready."

The boys hurriedly built up the fire with great logs. Then, after a
short discussion, they retreated to the cabin.

"This is the safest place," said Hamp, as he barricaded the entrance
with one of the sleds. "Tear a hole in that lower wall, Jerry. About as
big as your head."

As soon as the opening was made the boys crowded before it. It faced the
direction from which the wolves seemed to be approaching, and commanded
a view of the buck's dangling carcass.

Closer on the frosty air rang the dismal howling of the wolves. They
could be heard scurrying through the undergrowth. The boys waited,
nervously fingering their rifles.

Suddenly a great, tawny beast sprang into full view from behind a rock.
It was the hungry catamount. With a bound it fastened teeth and claws in
the haunch of venison. It pulled it to the ground, and then dragged it
lightly to the top of the bluff.

CHAPTER VI.

BESIEGED BY WOLVES.

This daring theft was so qu