A TERRIBLE NIGIIT. 343 



wish to my bitterest enemy. Bearsgrease had pressed 

 close to my side, laying his head on my breast ; the fire 

 was almost out, I was shivering with cold, and the 

 wolves were howling fearfully around the dead, keeping 

 at a distance for fear of the living, but by no means 

 disposed to lose their prey. I rose with difficulty, and 

 laid more wood on the fire. As it burnt up, the face 

 of the corpse seemed to brighten. I started, but found 

 it was only an optical delusion. Louder and fiercer 

 howled the wolves, and the dogs, of whom five were 

 alive besides Bearsgrease, answered them ; but the 

 answer was by no means one of defiance rather a 

 lament for the dead. Partly to scare away the wolves, 

 partly in the hope of finding help, I loaded and fired 

 three times; my delight was inexpressible as I heard 

 three shots in return. I loaded and fired till all my 

 powder was expended. As morning broke, I heard 

 two shots not far off, and soon after, a third. A ship- 

 wrecked mariner, hanging on to a single plank, could 

 not raise his voice more lustily to hail a passing ship, 

 than I did then and, joy upon joy, I heard a human 

 voice in answer. The bark of the dogs announced a 

 stranger, and Wachiga advanced out of the bush. " Wah I" 

 he exclaimed, starting at the shocking spectacle. He 

 felt poor Erskine, and shook his head mournfully. He 

 then turned to me. I showed him my swollen arm, 

 which he examined attentively, without speaking. Form- 

 ing a hollow with his two hands, and placing them 

 to his lips, he gave a loud piercing shout. The an- 

 swer came from no great distance, and in a lew 

 minutes my dear old Conwell, and most of the Indian-, 

 were at my side. 1 grasped Con well's hand sorrow- 



