CHAPTER XXII.

THE BATTLE WITH THE WOLVES.

The pack came forward with a rush. Great, long, gaunt figures, they covered the ground with remarkable speed. Each bound brought them closer to the swift-flying sleigh in spite of the best efforts the tired horses could put forth; and they were putting forth their best, for they were in even greater fear than the human load they bore.

Now the first wolf reached the back of the sleigh and launched itself in a desperate leap. His forefeet found their mark, but he had not gauged the distance accurately and he slipped back; but he tried again. The second time the leap was more true and he clung to the back of the sleigh and attempted to pull himself up.

It was that moment that Boris fired. The ball sped true and the first wolf went tumbling back into the road.

Immediately the others of the pack set upon him and tore him to pieces with their sharp teeth; then they dashed forward again.

But the second attack seemed to have been carefully thought out. While several of the larger wolves leaped for the back of the sleigh, others of the pack darted by the sleigh on either side and sprang upon the horses. Jack turned his whip from the backs of the horses and lashed out at the wolves. Some he hit and some he missed; but he swung the long whip with great violence and for the moment the attack was beaten off. In the rear, Boris had also been successful a second time.

Thus they gained a breathing space and Boris called out:

"I have only two shots left!"

"Then it looks as though we were done for," said Jack quietly, as he continued to ply the whip and the horses sped on.

A hundred yards ahead, the road turned sharply and the panic-stricken horses dashed madly around it. The wolf-pack was now some distance back, for they had stopped over another fallen comrade.

Suddenly Jack let out a cry of joy. Not a hundred yards ahead was a small building of some kind--in the darkness the lad could not make out just what--but it was a refuge.

Quickly he imparted the good news to Boris and cried:

"Drop off and run for the door as we go by."

The lad threw the reins upon the horses' backs and climbed to the back of the sleigh, as did Boris. Then, just as the sleigh went flying past the low building, they dropped to the ground.

Both went sprawling, but they were up quickly and dashing toward the door of the little hut, as it now appeared to be. From behind, the wolf-pack, seeing their prey so near, leaped forward with renewed energy.

"Open the door quick!" shouted Jack.

Boris laid hold of the knob, turned it and pushed vigorously. The door opened and Boris stepped back to let Jack pass in first. The lad hesitated a brief moment and then sprang inside. Boris would have followed, but at that moment three gray figures launched themselves through the air.

Boris' revolver spoke twice--his two last cartridges were now gone--and two of the enemy fell to the ground; but the leap of the third wolf--the largest of the pack--carried him to Boris' shoulder.

The Russian was borne to the ground.

He was up in a minute with a terrible cry, and seizing the wolf in both his great hands, he plucked him from him; then, turning, he threw the animal squarely into the pack as it dashed upon him.

The pack gave back and Boris took advantage of that moment to spring within the hut and slam shut the door; even as the wolves, recovering, leaped against it.

Inside the two fugitives hurriedly barred the door and sank to the floor, tired out from their exertions.

"Safe!" panted Jack at last, getting to his feet.

"I guess so," returned Boris. "They can't get in here unless there is a window open. Look around quickly."

They explored the hut in the semi-darkness--a faint light reflected from the snow without permitting them to see. Examining the window through which the light came Jack found it covered by glass.

"Guess they won't try that way," he said.

"You never can tell," replied Boris with a shake of his head. "If they are really desperate and hungry, they may try to spring through. The first would break the glass and the others would have no trouble getting in."

"Well, it's the only window in the place; we should be able to guard it," said Jack.

He looked about the floor and at last picked up a big log that lay before the old fireplace. It was heavy, but the lad wielded it without difficulty.

"We should be able to hold them off with this," he said.

The Russian looked at the weapon and nodded.

"By the Czar!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea you could handle that weight so easily."

"As I told you before, I am no weakling," replied Jack quietly. "We shall take turns at the door. I suppose the pack will draw off with the coming of day?"

"It depends," said Boris, "upon how close we happen to be to other human beings. If we are close to the railroad, where men pass frequently, the pack will probably draw off at daylight. If not, we shall have to stand a siege."

At that moment there was a sound of crashing glass and both looked toward the window just in time to see a huge grey shape come flying through and alight upon its feet on the floor.

Jack raised his log and would have brought it down on the animal's head, but Boris cried:

"Guard the window! I'll take care of this one."

Jack leaped to obey and arrived just in time to bring the log crashing down on another head as it showed itself. While Boris struggled with the wolf inside, the lad disposed of four of the enemy.

Boris and the wolf that had succeeded in gaining an entrance sprang toward each other at the same moment. Both were wounded already, Boris with a bite in the shoulder from the animal he had encountered before entering the hut, and the wolf from a cut inflicted by the ragged pieces of glass as he passed through the window.

Boris presented his side as the wolf dodged and stepped slightly aside. The animal's teeth nipped the Russian's clothes, but failed to reach the flesh. Before the beast could recover, Boris had seized him by the throat with both hands.

A mighty grip, this, and the wolf struggled in vain, scratching and wriggling as it was lifted clear off the floor. Holding him at arm's length, Boris continued to shut off the beast's wind. The wolf gurgled once, twice and then became limp in Boris' hands.

But Boris was wary. He had no mind to allow himself to be tricked, knowing well that a wolf, sometimes when cornered, resorted to all sorts of subterfuges. Boris held his grip for several minutes; then flung the wolf's body from him.

"I guess that settles you," he said quietly.

He approached the window to lend Jack a helping hand if necessary; but the enemy, having lost four of their number there, hung back.

"I don't think they will try it again for a while," said Jack calmly.

"You can't tell," returned Boris. "Sometimes they never give up. Now you keep guard here and I'll see if I can't start a fire. We would be safer then."

Jack nodded and Boris turned away. A few moments later Jack heard him give a grunt of satisfaction.

"Find anything?" the lad called.

"Plenty to start a fire," was the response. "Wood, husks and matches. I'll have a fire going in this fireplace in a few moments. Then we shall be safe."

The big Russian was as good as his word, and a few minutes later a cheerful blaze filled the fireplace.

"Now," said the Russian, "I wonder if I couldn't scare up a little food?"

He rummaged about in the drawers of a table at the far end of the room and presently returned to the fireplace carrying a piece of cold meat.

"Don't know what it is, but it will do," was his comment. "I'm too hungry to be very particular."

"So am I," Jack agreed.

The Russian produced a long knife from one of the drawers and cut the piece of meat in two, handing half to Jack. They devoured it ravenously.

"Not so bad," said Jack, smacking his lips when the last piece had disappeared down his throat. "Tastes funny, though. What do you suppose it was?"

"Horse," was the brief reply.

Jack gulped and swallowed several times before he could force himself to reply:

"Wha--what's that?"

"Horse," repeated Boris. "Didn't you ever eat horse before?"

"N-n-no, I guess not," replied Jack, feeling somewhat sick at his stomach.

"It's good," said Boris. "Next to a piece of beef, give me a good piece of horseflesh. Why," noting the queer expression on Jack's face, "you don't mean to tell me you don't like it?"

"I can't say that I am fond of it," replied the lad truthfully.

"But----" began Boris.

Jack jumped to his feet.

"Please don't talk about it any more," he said with a sickly smile. "If I have eaten a piece of horse, all right. But I don't want to be told about it."

"Ho! ho!" laughed Boris. "Now what do you think of that! Here is a brave young man turning sick just because he has swallowed a piece of horse. Ho! ho!"

He laughed long and loudly.

"Won't you please keep quiet?" asked Jack, getting sicker every minute. "Horse! Ugh!"

Realizing that the lad really and truly didn't like such talk, the Russian desisted. He arose and walked to the window. Without, but some distance from the hut now that the fire was blazing freely in the open place, stood the gaunt, gray wolves. Boris called Jack to him.

"They'll stay there as long as this fire is kept burning," he explained. "But there is no need for both of us to stand guard. One can watch and keep the fire going and the other can sleep. We'll divide the night into four-hour watches. You lie down on the pallet there in the corner. I'll stand the first watch."

Jack did as Boris suggested and was soon asleep; and all through the long night, inside the hut one stood guard as the other slept--and the break of day did not come any too suddenly.