324 Wild Beasts 



me that the wolves would make another attack, and said 

 that no one must sleep on his post. 



" To increase our difficulty, we now had but few bushes 

 left, and none could be obtained near us ; therefore it 

 would only be by a most vigilant watch that we could now 

 save our horses. The night, too, became very dark, and 

 nothing could be seen at a short distance except towards 

 the lake, where any dark object might be observed against 

 the dim light that rested on the water. Sharp and keen 

 eyes were peering out in every direction, but no wolf was 

 seen, nor sound heard. The Kalkas said the wolves were 

 waiting till all was still, and then they would make a dash 

 at the horses. 



" We had been watching a long time without the slight- 

 est movement, when two of the horses became uneasy, 

 tugging at the thongs and snorting. The clouds rolled 

 off, the stars came forth and reflected more light upon the 

 lake. Presently howling was heard in the distance, and 

 Tchuck-a-boi declared that another pack of wolves was 

 coming. When they approached nearer, those that had 

 been keeping guard over us so quietly began to growl, and 

 let us know that they were not far away. As it was now 

 deemed absolutely necessary to procure some bushes, four 

 of my men crept quietly along the shore of the lake, two 

 being armed, and in about ten minutes they returned, each 

 of them having an armful of fuel. The embers were 

 rekindled, and material placed on them, ready to be blown 

 into a flame the moment it was needed. The sounds we 

 heard in the distance had ceased for some time, when 

 suddenly there was a great commotion. The other wolves 



