SKATER CHASED BY WOLVES. 459 



But I soon came opposite the house, and my hounds — I 

 knew their deep voices — roused by the noise, bayed furiously 

 from the kennels. I heard their chains rattle : how I wished 

 they would break them ! and then I should have protectors 

 that would be peers to the fiercest denizens of the forest. 

 The wolves taking the hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped 

 in their mad career, and after a moment's consideration, 

 turned and fled. I watched them until their forms disappeared 

 over a neighboring hill, then taking off my skates, wended 

 my way to the house, with feelings which may be better 

 imagined than described. But even yet I never see a broad 

 sheet of ice in the moon-shine, without thinking of that 

 snuffing breath and those fearful things that followed me so 

 closely down the frozen Kennebec. 



