A TERRIBLE NIGHT. 189 



now on the roofs of the houses, and thought it must be 

 very cold out of doors. 



Such an awakening as I had was worse than I could 

 wish to my bitterest enemy. Bearsgrease had pressed 

 close to my side, laying his head on my breast ; the fire 

 was almost out, I was shivering with cold, and the wolves 

 were howling fearfully around the dead, keeping at a dis- 

 tance for fear of the living, but by no means disposed to 

 lose theii prey. I rose with difficulty, and laid more 

 wood on the fire. As it burnt up, the face of the corpse 

 seemed to brighten. I started, but found it was only an 

 optical delusion. Louder and fiercer howled the wolves, 

 and the dogs, of whom five were alive besides Bears- 

 grease, answered them ; but the answer was by no means 

 one of defiance rather a lament for the dead. Partly 

 to scare away the wolves, partly in the hope of finding 

 help, I loaded and fired three times ; my delight was in- 

 expressible as I heard three shots in return. I loaded and 

 fired till all my powder was expended. As morning 

 broke, I shot two shots not far off, and soon after, a 

 third. A shipwrecked mariner, hanging on to a single 

 plank, could not raise his voice more lustily to hail a 

 passing ship, than I did then and, joy upon joy, I heard 

 a human voice in answer. The bark of the dogs an- 

 nounced a stranger, and Wachiga advanced out of the 

 bush. " Wah ! " he exclaimed, starting at the shocking 

 spectacle. He felt poor Erskine, and shook his head 

 mournfully. He then turned to me. I showed him my 

 swollen arm, which he examined attentively, without 

 speaking. Forming a hollow with his two hands, and 

 placing them to his lips, he gave a loud piercing shout. 



