the cold was more intense than ever, and the sk

r several days. After dinner Brick and Hamp chopped holes through the ice, and caught a number of fat

. The boys put an extra layer of boughs on the cabin floor, and got

p. It alighted in some bushes near the verge of the jutting headl

tirely from his mind. Nearly a mile down the lake two black spec

is companions by

eld-glasses, B

away objects. Brick had the glasses-a long-range

said Brick, in a tone of relief. "

erry. "They ain't dressed like trappers or hunters. They have

faces," said Hamp. "They've come

ollowing us," sugge

Jerry. "Where ar

nk. Now they've disap

e glasses, and rest

mp. It was natural that they should feel a little curious and alarmed

hen built a roaring fire of great logs directly in front of the cabin.

ement to his feet. He pointed to

gone now. I saw a face pee

llow look like?"

r a couple of seconds. He had savage, black eyes, an

igate this thing," declare

ght a lantern. Then they boldly climbed the ban

ld be found. There were no footprin

u weren't mistak

, indignantly. "I saw the face

ort search. In all directions were dense thickets of undergrowth. Throug

said Jerry. "We can't find

is companions believed him. All were uneasy and scared. They knew that had the stranger been an honest m

ll," said Hamp. "The fellow was probably

eplied Brick. "He knows by this time

f getting a drink. He took an ax with him, but instead

look down the lake and over the surrounding forest. But all wa

no longer in the vicinity. With a relieved mind he descended from the tree

of the campfire shut in from the ice. He found a spot that had been chopped open at supper t

n the lake, and less than twenty feet distant, crouched a long, grayish beast. Wi

oward the creature, and, without pausing to look behind, dashed for camp at his top speed. The beast wa

of terror. Hamp lifted his rifle, and fired at random. He missed, of

e before Jerry coul

so suddenly," he declared. "I was kneeling on the ice, and

" asked Hamp.

ver saw. You can bet he's

animal that was after us nig

e across the ice. There's just one thing about it, fellows. I

aken careful aim when I had the chance. Now the measly varmin

bullet," declared Jerry. "Keep a stiff upper

stoutly. "I can kill a catamount as

d. He was hungry enough to hang onto the forlorn chance of a I meal, but not once did he show him

be sure," said Jerry. "If we watch long enough

mp, as he tossed a log on the fire. "How snug it

t to," suggested Jerry. "I'll k

it out with yo

ill I," a

the boys increased. They felt strongly tempted to go t

ull report of a gun far back in the woods

amp. "Those men must be campin

s from," admitted Jerry. "I c

word murder, but h

ick; "a sort of a roaring noise. It

tened i

ess there's a hurricane coming from the west. I know n

louder rose the weird, moaning sounds. Howl answered howl. The ra

crossed the lake. The bitter weather has driven the pack dow

ey must have attacked the camp of those two men, a

imb trees?"

ep cool, fellows. A wolf is a born coward, and hates powder. We'll give

ith great logs. Then, after a short di

ed the entrance with one of the sleds. "Tear a hole i

t faced the direction from which the wolves seemed to be appr

wolves. They could be heard scurrying through the underg

hungry catamount. With a bound it fastened teeth and claws in the haunch of venis