ut presently, when he
looked back again, they fell with cruel speed. The wolves,
despite the depth of the snow, had gained upon him. Sometimes,
perhaps, it proved hard enough to sustain the weight of their
bodies, and then they more than made up lost ground.

Albert noted a wolf which he took at once to be the leader, not
only because he led all the others, but because also of his
monstrous size. Even in that moment of danger he wondered that a
wolf could grow so large, and that he should have such long
teeth. But the boy, despite his great danger, retained his
presence of mind. If the wolves were gaining, then he must
inflict a check upon them. He whirled about, steadied himself a
moment on his snowshoes, and fired directly at the huge leader.
The wolf had swung aside when he saw the barrel of the rifle
raised, but the bullet struck down another just behind him.
Instantly, some of the rest fell upon the wounded brute and began
to devour him, while the remainder, after a little hesitation,
continued to pursue Albert.

But the boy had gained, and he felt that the repeating rifle
would be for a while like a circle of steel to him. He could
hold them back for a time with bullet after bullet, although it
would not suffice to stop the final rush when it came, if it
came.

Albert looked longingly ahead. He saw a feather of blue smoke
against the dazzling white and silver of the sky, and he knew
that it came from their cabin. If he were only there behind
those stout log walls! A hundred wolves, bigger than the big
leader, might tear at them in vain! And perhaps Dick, too, would
come! He felt that the two together would have little to fear.

The wolves set up their fierce, whining howl again, and once more
it showed that they had gained upon the fleeing boy. He turned
and fired once, twice, three times, four times, as fast as he
could pull the trigger, directly into the mass of the pack. He
could not tell what he had slain and what he had wounded, but
there was a hideous snapping and snarling, and the sight of wolf
teeth flashing into wolf flesh.

Albert ran on and that feather of blue smoke was larger and
nearer. But was it near enough? He could hear the wolves behind
him again. All these diversions were only temporary. No matter
how many of their number were slain or wounded, no matter how
many paused to devour the dead and hurt, enough were always left
to follow him. The pursuit, too, had brought