316 A SHORT AND EASY WOLF HUNT 



the peninsula, then crossing the wooded belt, and 

 laying in wait for them as they came up on the 

 main river shore. This would also give me the 

 advantage of a steep bank, supposing the wolves 

 wanted to be nasty. We had both started on the 

 run, and I had gone about five hundred yards, 

 when I noticed that the boy was not with me. 

 The little Beggar had sneaked off to take a look 

 across the woods. In a few seconds I saw him 

 coming back, waving his hand to me. I ran up. 

 "They have got scent of us," he exclaimed, "and 

 I have just seen three of them coming back down 

 the river. They are not very far away." Not 

 expecting to go into the woods. I had left home 

 with a pair of heavy soled boots. Hastily re- 

 moving them, so as not to make any noise, I went 

 across with only my stockings on my feet. I cau- 

 tioned Muskrat to keep near me in case I 

 should need the rifle, which I kept empty, 

 as I was afraid to trust him with it load- 

 ed, behind me. Nearing the bank I peered 

 cautiously over. Sure enough there were three in 

 sight, sixty yards or so away, and coming towards 

 us as the boy had said. Two of them were big, 

 hungry-looking brutes, with a smaller one ac- 

 companying them. I looked around carefully 

 for the rest of the pack, but could not see it. At 

 all events there were enough to begin with. I had 

 both barrels of my gun loaded with SSG., and I 

 was now quite sure of one or two wolves at that 



