A RESCUED PARTY 245

We fell in with a few wolves yesterday, but beat them off
easily enough. Last night we stopped at a little village in
the forest. ‘They certainly made me feel uneasy there with
their tales about the wolves, but there was no help for it.
We started as soon as day broke, and had driven some
fifteen miles before we came up to you. We had not gone
five when the wolves began to show themselves.

“At first they kept well behind us, but presently we came
upon a large number, who joined in near where we saw an
overturned sledge with the snow stained with blood all
round it. From there we kept up a running fight, and must
have killed a score; but their numbers increased rather than
diminished, and when a fresh pack came up from ahead, a
quarter of a mile before we saw you, it looked as if our
case was hopeless; for the horses, which had been going at
the top of their speed from the time we started, were begin-
ning to flag, while the wolves were fast closing in upon us,
and were just beginning to attack the horses when I saw
you in the road. And now, pray tell us how you came to
be there so opportunely, and how it was that you had that
great fire blazing.”

Charlie gave the full history of the previous night’s
adventure.

“Wonderful!” the count and his brother exclaimed; and
the former went on: “I have heard many stories of escapes
from wolves, but never one like yours. It was an admirable
thought, indeed, that of at once obtaining heat and fright-
ening the wolves away by setting the tree on fire. ‘That
thought saved our lives as well as your own, for our fate
would have been the same as those unfortunate travellers
whose horses you saw, and who brought the wolves upon
you. And now, sir, would it be impertinent to ask for what
purpose you have come to Poland? Lelieve me, I only put
the question in order to see if I can in any way be of assist-
ance to you.”