risky proposition at best, and I've seen the Lumberman drive 

 his car. I like good sport, but I have my family to think of, 

 and I believe I won't go." 



The Lumberman, properly resentful, vowed with some heat 

 that he could be and in fact was as careful and cautious as 

 any driver need be. There was no time for argument, as wait- 

 ing to be hunted is not a wolf's long suit. Fuming at the de- 

 lay, the Banker and the Cement Pavement Man and the Hard- 

 ware Salesman all went the Lumberman's surety that he 

 would not be reckless and would drive slow; and at last the 

 Legislator yielded. Rifles and cartridges and planks were 

 brought, and the five set out. 



After three or four miles on the lake, the hunters caught 

 sight of the wolves, and managed to get within a hundred rods 

 of them. Then the frightened animals began to run, separating 

 soon. One ran to the left, toward Springsteel's Island, and 

 the other turned to the right and ran toward Zippel on the 

 South Shore. The Lumberman turned the car and started 

 after the second wolf, driving cautiously, keeping the speed 

 down to twenty-two miles an hour, as the anxious Legislator 

 read on the speedometer. The wolf kept easily out of rifle 

 range, running toward the muskeag where no automobile 

 could follow. The hunters fired shot after shot, wasting all 

 but four of their cartridges. "Speed her up!" shouted the 

 Legislator. "He'll beat us to the muskeag." But the Lumber- 

 man remembered his solemn promise, and held the pace down 

 to twenty-two miles. And twenty-two miles was exactly what 

 the wolf could do. He reached the muskeag, and rushed 

 across it to safety, while the men swore in disgust. 



The Legislator was furious. He denounced the Lumber- 

 man's driving in no uncertain terms. "You fool chump!" he 

 roared. "We'd have got him if you had speeded her up a bit. 

 Why didn't you let her out like I told you to? You don't need 

 an automobile. What you want is a wheelbarrow." And the 

 hunters howled with delight. 



The car was turned now and nearing Springsteel's Island. 

 "There's the other wolf," shouted the Banker, "beyond that 

 ice-push." A wall of ragged ic'e barred the way, where a 

 crack had come in the smooth floor of the frozen lake, and 



10 



