FUR FACTS 269 



laughed, and said I wouldn't be very likely to find one within ten 

 miles. He also warned me to be very careful in any dealings with 

 our friends up the river as they were regarded with suspicion by 

 everyone in that section of the country. 



I thanked him for the information and began to make rapid 

 strides back towards the river, hoping to reach my boat before dark. 

 I re-crossed the swamp and followed the same trail I had taken that 

 morning. I reached the river bank just as the shades of night were 

 falling and the wolves were setting up their song for the night. As 

 quickly as possible I made to the spot where I had left my boat among 

 the brushes — ^but, lo! and behold — not a sign of the boat was to be 

 found. 



Tired, hungry and footsore I started down the river, still lugging, 

 my corn meal and molasses which now seemed like a ton in weight. 

 Thanks to the snow, it did not get very dark and I was able to see 

 quite a distance around me. For hours, it seemed, I trudged along, 

 keeping close to the bank of the river. I felt as though I could not 

 walk another step; my knees where so weak it was necessary for me 

 to stop and rest frequently, and my eyes threatened to close in spite 

 of me. 



Then I heard the wolves howling, nearby, it seemed — and I was 

 at least another mile from the cabin. The howling grew louder and 

 more frantic, and I was sure now that the pack was headed in my 

 direction. I was certainly in no position to offer resistance to a pack 

 of hungry wolves, so I made my way to the nearest tall tree and 

 started scrambling up its trunk as fast as my weakened limbs would 

 permit, leaving my meal and molasses in a nearby bush. 



I was none too soon, for by the time I had secured my hold on 

 the first limb the tree was surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves, 

 howling furiously. I secured myself as well as possible in the branch- 

 es of the tree and relaxed as much as I could. I sat thus for thirty 

 minutes or more (it seemed like years) while the wolves continued 

 their vigil below me. 



Down the river I saw a light suddenly appear and vanish. It 

 was gone for a moment — then it appeared again and seemed to grow 

 brighter. Gradually it grew nearer and finally I heard the splashing 

 of oars and the sound of voices reached my ears. A moment later I 

 realized that it was uncle and Jack exploring the river in search of 

 me. I called to them as loudly as I could, but the wolves were still 

 howling lustily and my voice sounded like a whisper in comparison. 

 Obviously, I could never reach them in that way, but I reasoned that 



