Part 4 (1/2)
We had accoun to wonder why Uncle Mark had not overtaken us, as he was a quick walker, and intended to carry only his axe, and a s so about us, in the hope of catching sight of a raccoon or opossuaht a short tih the forest
”Sure, that comes from a pack of wolves,” observed Mike ”But no! I belave one of the brutes is capable ofthe trees I hope that there are not ht take it into their heads to attack us, and that would not be pleasant”
We went on, however, troubling ourselves very little about the wolf, for I felt sure that there was only one, or a couple at theround the foot of sohs bent down by the snohich had frozen hard on them The sky had become cloudy by this time, too, and there was every appearance of a fresh fall
”Surely Uncle Mark will be up with us soon, Mike!” I observed
But scarcely had I spoken when I heardto us He was in thetowards us, axe in hand He had good reason to keep it there, for just thena huge wolf rush out from behind a clump of trees close at hand He stopped to receive his assailant, which, probably well nigh famished, see a word, had unslung the gun and dropped on his knee, for there was not a moment to be lost In another instant the fierce ould have sprung at ht have taken his life; or, at all events, have severely injured hih to render him any assistance It all depended on Mike's steady aiood shot, still I was thankful that he had the gun
He fired; and the brute, theand hissing, with its shoulder broken A blow on the head from my uncle's axe finished its existence
”You have rendered ot up to his would have been at my throat in another moment”
”Faix, thin, Mr Mark, it is only what I would have wished to be done,”
answered Mike ”And if you ever catch sight of a bear about to give ave the dead wolf a kick--”you will be afther shooting hih!”
”Well, Mike, we shall then be quits In theNotwithstanding the danger he had been in, he was quite unlow, nor did a li the hide up to the branch of a tree a little way from the bank, where it would be concealed from any passers-by We did not wish to encumber ourselves with it in the meantime, and we hoped to find it on our return We were not likely to forget the spot, any more than those boys in the ”old country” would do, who, as I have heard, are taken to certain landmarks and whipped, in order that they may afterwards bear them duly in mind
We were thankful that the hich had attacked my uncle was alone, as it would have been unpleasant to find ourselves followed by a howling pack; andregretted that we had not all of us brought our guns
Trudging on some miles further, we came upon a part of the river which had not been frozen over until after the snow fell Here, the ice being clear, we put on our skates, and glidedtowards the spot where we understood the lumberers were at work
CHAPTER THREE
A TERRIFIC SNOWSTORM--KEPENAU'S TIMELY APPEARANCE--WE VISIT KEPENAU'S CAMP--HIS HOSPITALITY--AN INDIAN'S DREAD OF THE ”FIRE WATER”--WE BID ADIEU TO OUR INDIAN FRIENDS--OUR ARRIVAL AT THE LOGGING ENCAMPMENT-- JACQUES MICHAUD TAKES A FANCY TO MIKE--JACQUES' RAFT STORY--MY UNCLE AND I START ON OUR RETURN--WE ARE ATTACKED BY A FIERCE PACK OF WOLVES, AND ARE SAVED BY KEPENAU AND HIS MEN--MIKE LAFFAN IN A DIFFICULTY--WE RESCUE HIM--ASHATEA, KEPENAU'S DAUGHTER--MY VISIT TO LILY--MR AND MRS
CLAXTON--DORA AND REUBEN--REUBEN VISITS OUR HUT--THE MARTEN AND PORCUPINE--AN OPOSSUM-HUNT
The snow had for sohtly, but the hich had arisen blew it off the ice, and thus it did not iress; but that saht directly ahead of us, soon increased in strength, and drove the particles of snow, sharp as needles, into our faces Indeed, the cold every instant became more intense, while the snow fell hty loike a shower of penknives, mixed with needles and pins!” cried Mike ”It's a hard matther to keep the eyes open
What e be afther doing, Mr Mark, if it gets worse?”
”We'll go on till it does get worse,” said Uncle Mark ”It would not do to turn back now”
Mike said nodown his head, worked away ht and main
I did my best to keep up, but IAt last I felt that I could stand it no longer; so I proposed to my uncle that we should ht a fire, and wait till the stor on ”We should be half-frozen before we could get up a a us in gruff tones, and I guessed it was that of an Indian; but we had no reason to dread the Indians of these parts As we looked about to see froht of the tops of two or three a out from a cedar-bush at a little distance from the shore