IN THE FAR WEST. 255 



"Why? "said I. 



" Because she'll tell her people, who can't be fur off, that 

 there are white strangers here ; and as they are naturally of a 

 suspicious disposition they may think we have some designs 

 against them, and if they do not attack us they may try to 

 steal our animals." 



"What ought to be done then?" said I. 



" Get out of here as quickly as possible/' said he ; " and go 

 to camp and put out the fire, so that they cannot find us by 

 its light. They won't attempt to harm us now, as they have 

 a superstitious fear of making a night attack ; and if they try 

 to hunt us up in the morning we know that they mean mis- 

 chief, and we also know what we ought to do." 



This state of affairs was not pleasant to contemplate, and I 

 chided myself for my stubborn curiosity, but when I saw that 

 my companion displayed no change in his looks or demeanour, 

 I felt reassured, and hoped I had not placed him in any serious 

 predicament. 



On reaching camp we found it surrounded with gray wolves, 

 but they were too cautious to make a raid on our edibles or 

 animals, owing to their fear of the mastiff, which was tied 

 near the tent and barking loudly. The mules seemed to be in 

 the greatest state of alarm, for they strained at their pickets 

 and plunged and neighed with fright. Fearing that our steeds 

 would break away, and that we might be left to the mercies 

 of all foes if we did not drive off the wolves, we were com- 

 pelled, much as we disliked to make any noise, to open fire on 

 them, and after the second volley from our shot-guns they 

 disappeared in the gloom like magic, leaving three dead and 

 two mortally wounded behind them. The latter two were 

 finished with our hunting knives, and throwing their carcasses 

 on a tree, we put out the blazing fire by scattering it, and 

 covering it with wet leaves and branches. 



We then loaded our arms and waited patiently for daylight, 

 for it was our intention to be the first to make a movement if 

 the Indians came to hunt us up or make any hostile demon- 

 stration. 



We could not have slept, even if we desired to do so, as the 



