244 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



halted to rest in perfect indifference as to their companion's 

 fate. 



"Round and round the lake the frightened creature sped, 

 with the determined wolves behind her. Presently, however, 

 the wolves one by one turned aside, and lay down to rest, 

 until only two continued the pursuit. But as the deer came 

 round the lake again several of the now-refreshed wolves 

 again entered the chase, thus they relieved one another. The 

 ill-fated doe, in a vain hope of throwing aside her pursuers, 

 twice rushed into the very centre of the caribou herd; but it 

 was of no avail, for, as the wolves relentlessly followed her, 

 the other deer wildly scattered away to a safer distance, where, 

 however, they soon came together again, and stood watching 

 their enemies running down their doomed comrade. Now 

 first one wolf and then another took the lead ; closer and closer 

 they pressed upon the exhausted doe whose shortening stride 

 told that her strength was fast ebbing away. 



"My son, perhaps you wonder why I did not use my gun.*^ 

 I was out of range, and, moreover, while I was afraid that if I 

 ventured out of the woods I might frighten the game away, 

 I knew I had but to wait a little while and then I should be sure 

 of at least one deer without even firing my gun. I did not 

 have to wait long. With a few tremendous leaps the leading 

 wolf seized the doe by the base of the throat and throwing her, 

 heels over head, brought her down. 



"Realizing that I must act at once, I rushed out upon the 

 lake, but in my haste I fell and broke the stock off my gun — 

 just behind the hammer. But as I still had my axe, I picked 

 up the broken gun, and charged in among the wolves that 

 now began to back away, though not without much snarhng, 

 glaring of angry eyes, and champing of powerful jaws. As 

 one remained too near, I let drive at it with a charge from my 

 almost useless gun; and though I missed my aim, the report 

 reheved me of any further trouble. Cutting up the deer, I 



