450 "'VILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



once, but usually require some little time to work themselves 

 up to the point. That such was the case, now proved most 

 lucky for poor old Dick, who began to realize the horrible 

 danger, as a dark object would brush past his legs every 

 few moments, with a snapping sound like the ring of a steel 

 trap ; while the yells and patter of the gathering wolves 

 increased with terrible rapidity. Dick knew enough of the 

 habits of the animal to be fully aware that to run would 

 insure his instant death, as the cowardly pack would be sure 

 to set upon him in a body on the instant of observing any 

 such indication of fear. His only chance was to keep them 

 at bay by preserving the utmost steadiness until he could 

 reach the open ground before him, when he hoped they 

 might leave him, as they do not like to attack in the open 

 ground. He remembered, too, that an old hut still stood 

 in the middle of the clearing, and the thought that he might 

 reach that haven gave him some comfort. 



The wolves were becoming more audacious every minute, 

 and the poor old soul could see their green eyes glaring 

 fiery death upon him from all the thickets around. They 

 rushed at him more boldly one after another, snapping as 

 they went past in closer and closer proximity to his thin 

 legs — indeed, the frightened fiddler instinctively thrust at 

 them with his fiddle to turn them aside. In doing so the 

 strings were jarred, and the despairing wretch took on some 

 hope to his shivering soul, when he observed the sudden- 

 ness of the sound caused the wolves to leap aside with 

 surprise. He instantly drew his hand across the strings 

 with vehemence, and to his infinite relief they sprang back 

 and aside as if he had shot amongst them. Taking imme- 

 diate advantage of this lucky diversion in his favor, as he 

 had now reached the edge of the clearing, he made a break 

 for the hut, raking his hand across the fiddle strings at every 

 jump, until they fairly roared again. The astonished wolves 



