A RESCUED PARTY 239

next to them was manned by the two travellers, their ser-
vants, Charlie, and Stanislas, with blazing brands.

Charlie and his companion hastily loaded their pistols
again. ‘The two gentlemen had each rifles and a brace of
pistols, as had their servants. A lady and child had been
lifted from the sledge, and these crouched down at the
angle by the fire. The sledge and the two horses pro-
tected one of the faces of the position, and the driver at
his master’s orders took his position on the front seat
again, so as to shoot down any wolf that might try to attack
the flank of the outside horse.

The wolves looked doubtful at the appearance of the
dense smoke rising up, but after a little hesitation they
rushed to the attack. Four were rolled over by bullets
from the rifles, and as they came within a few yards the
pistols cracked out in rapid succession. As soon as these
were all emptied the six men caught up the blazing brands,
and struck full in the faces of the wolves, shouting loudly
as they did so. Seized with a momentary panic, the ani-
mals turned and fled, and then a fierce fight took place
between the injured wolves and their companions. There
was but just time to recharge the rifles and pistols when
they came on again. Although the fire of the defenders
was as deadly as before, the wolves seemed this time de-
termined to get at their victims. In vain were blows
showered on their heads, while those who first sprang on
the tree were stabbed with the knives the defenders held in
their left hands.

The contest could have had but one termination, when
suddenly two shots were heard, and then with loud shouts
a party of men burst through the forest, and with pistol
and axe fell on the wolves. This unexpected onslaught
had a decisive effect, and with loud howls and yelps the
wolves turned and fled,

Up to this time not a word had been exchanged by the