206 
ADVENTURE WITH A WOLF. 
horses, but it was too plain that the beasts 
were gaining upon him. Their howls awak¬ 
ened the children, who began to cry and 
scream; and the sound of their voices, while 
it gave fresh spirit to their pursuers, made 
the horses almost unmanageable. They 
-were almost upon them, when some evil 
spirit, I suppose, put it into the man’s head 
to save himself at the expense of his charge. 
He snatched up the eldest boy, and, in spite 
of his struggles, tossed him out upon the 
snow.” 
Daisy hid her face in the old man’s coat. 
Kichard continued:—“ This checked the 
pursuit for a time, and he gained a little in 
the race; but the horses began to flag, the 
road was not good. Again the wolves were 
alongside, and another child was sacrificed. 
This time the delay was very short; and, 
while the youngest was clinging round his 
neck and begging him not to throw it to 
the wolves, a great monster leaped almost 
into the sledge, snatched the poor baby from 
his arms, and it was devoured in an instant. 
By this time the lights of the town were in 
. sight: the dogs rushed out barking at the 
noise, and the wolves sullenly retreated. 
