238 A JACOBITE EXILE

were brought together, and a few blows with their axes
speedily broke off several of the outer ends of charred
wood. These were thrown on, and the fire soon blazed
up high again.

Two more shots were heard, this time close at hand.

‘They ran into the road; a sledge with several figures in
it was coming along at full speed. It was almost sur-
rounded by wolves, and as they looked two of them sprang
at the horses’ heads; but two shots again rung out and they
dropped backwards among their companions, many of
whom threw themselves at once upon their bodies, while
the sledge continued on its headlong course.

“Were! here!’”? Charlie shouted at the top of his voice,
waving his hands to show the direction which they were
to take.

A moment later the sledge dashed past them and swept
up to the fire.

“Seize the blazing brands!” Charlie shouted as those
in the sledge threw themselves out.

He and Stanislas rolled the two first wolves over with
their pistols, and then joined the others.

The driver had run at once to the horses, and had
muffled them by throwing his coat over the head of one
and a rug over the head of the other, and though snorting
and trembling in every limb they stood quiet until he had
thrown a head-rope round each of their necks and fastened
them to the heaviest of the branches. ‘Then he seized a
handful of fallen leaves which were exposed by the melting
of the snow above them and threw them into the fire,
whence a dense smoke poured out.

The wolves had again stopped to devour the two animals
that had been shot, and this gave time to the men by their
united efforts to move a heavy branch and place it across
two others whose ends lay in the fire, so as to form with
them a sort of triangular breast-work, the face of which