We were then ordered to take our stations. Bob and myself were placed on the same platform, of which he very readily took upon himself the command.

Now comes the runner's office. I had never before been on an excursion of a similar nature, and had but an imperfect idea of his duties. Girden and Ralph, the two most active of our party, proceeded to start on their dangerous errand. Girden was already prepared; but Ralph took off his huntingcoat and leggings, and everything that could in any way impede his running. Then, taking from his pouch a drug, a piece of which they placed in their moccasins, and holding the remainder between their fingers, they both struck out in our front, cautiously threading their way, their eyes glancing in every direction, intending to separate when about one hundred yards distant, Ralph taking a south-easterly direction, while Girden went to the north-east.

The utmost anxiety was now manifested by the party; our rifles were all ready, at the slightest appearance of a wolf, to do their work. For about a quarter of an hour all was silent; and the lurid glare of the pine torches conveyed anything but a joyous feeling to my breast, lighting up objects only

in their immediate vicinity, shrouding all beyond in darkness.

Presently a faint howl was heard, that caused the blood to rush to my heart. Nothing but actual experience can enable any one to form a correct estimate of the intense anxiety that a person labours under on such occasions. Again, another howl, more loud, then another-another, from every direction. of the wood; then simultaneously, a burst, as if from myriads, resounded through the wild, echoing from mount to mount, followed up by cries still more awful and terrific.

"Be ready!" said an old hunter beside me, in a tone that betrayed the excitement he felt, "for we shall have work to do presently;" and at that instant a wolf emerged from the wood into the open space, the torches revealing him plainly to our view. A dozen rifle balls in an instant pierced him. Another followed, glancing first at the torches, and then at us, as if uncertain what course to take.

"Be chary of your ammunition," said the same hunter, "for we may need all we've got;" and he raised his rifle, as the wolf was turning back, and instantly brought him to the ground.

Now our fears were wrought up to the

upon

highest pitch for the safety of Girden and Ralph. We could not discover the least sign of their proximity, and the awful howls now came thick upon our startled senses, borne the breeze that whistled past us. Suddenly we heard footsteps, and could detect the quick breathings of a person, followed close by the rush of multitudes of those ravenous beasts, and presently the form of Ralph was seen, darting like a winged bird towards the goal. Close upon his track are seen the wolves-they press upon him, their eyes gloating at the prospect of his becoming their victim-he looks not behind he gains the open space-already they clutch at his legs-he eludes their fangs, and with a spring reaches the ladder-the next moment he falls breathless upon the scaffold-he is SAFE!

Crack! crack! went the rifles; wolf after wolf fell; another and another supplied its place, till countless numbers lay stretched around. The gleam of the torches threw a fitful light on their protruding tongues and glaring eyeballs, as they ran to and fro, rendered frantic by the unnatural appearance of the flames, and the exciting nature of the drug used by the runners, so that they fell easy victims to our murderous fire, which, however, in no way appeared to check their onward rush.

But where was Girden? Ralph cast a hasty glance at the party-but one look-he saw that the poor runner was not of their number, and he sprang to his feet, as if he would not remain in security, and suffer the unfortunate youth to die alone. But before he could put his project in execution, the footsteps of the runner were heard, and the next instant the form of Girden was seen, speeding his way towards us, his long hair streaming in the wind, pursued by numbers of his savage foes. I sought to warn him by my voice, but my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. There seemed to be no hope for him behind, before, and on the south side, came the enraged monsters, while on the opposite side appeared the gap before named, in which direction was his only chance, though a frail one, of escape.

"Turn, Girden, to the gap!" cried Ralph in a hoarse voice; and the runner for an instant paused, as he now became aware that his retreat was cut off. There was no time for thought; swift as an arrow he turned short round, ascending with the speed of the wind the rising ground on the opposite side of the gap. Soon he must reach the summit, and then fall a prey to his foes. My senses almost forsook me as I watched his figure as

VOL. I.

E

it moved along. The incessant fire of our rifles for a time prolonged his life, but our hearts sickened as we observed our failing ammunition. Suddenly a wolf sprang, and fastened himself upon the runner's shoulders: the rest were some distance behind. Quick as light the runner turned and shook him off, ere his teeth had mangled his body, and his knife passed through and through his neck; but no time was there for him to withdraw the knife, for numbers had now reached the spot. Again another closed upon his heels, but the tough staff did not fail the uncowed man, and the wolf fell, crushed by the Herculean blow. I now could scarcely see Girden, so excited was I, as he neared the gap, a terrific chasm, twelve feet wide. Could he reach the opposite bank? Impossible; besides the desired point offered an additional difficulty to his gaining it by being somewhat higher than that on which he stood. neared the brink-he hesitated-no time was to be lost-already a dozen of the ferocious monsters were about to seize him—one end of his staff was placed on the ground, and with a desperate spring he launched himself across the chasm his feet gained the spot-his hands catching the limb of a sapling on the summit secured his safety-but no!-the

He