160 A SPORTING PARADISE 



" ' I am sure they have/ replied Jack. * We 

 must have covered at least five miles, and they 

 sound as near to us as they were an hour ago. 

 Wolves always work slowly at first/ he added, 

 * until their numbers give them recklessness ; 

 and then, when on full cry, they can easily out- 

 run any race-horse that ever won a cup.' 



<c c Let us hurry on, then, and find a place 

 where we can make a stand against them,' I 

 said quickly, though I felt a choking sensation 

 in my throat. 



" ' I don't think we can do anything except climb 

 trees and tie ourselves to a good perch. Cold 

 then would be our only danger,' Jack remarked. 



" The prospect of spending a whole night in 

 midwinter, freezing and cramped on the branches 

 of a tree, was a terrible alternative. The ther- 

 mometer at this season falls below zero, and, 

 unless circulation could be maintained, we ran 

 the risk of freezing to death. 



" All wild animals have a peculiar fascination 

 over their victims. It is on this account that 

 the benighted traveller secures himself firmly 

 before entertaining thoughts of sleep and rest. 

 Wolves prowl round a refugee in circles, and 

 they seem to possess a peculiar magnetic attraction. 



