almost anything.

"I remember one time when I had occasion to go to Belford, a little
trading station some twenty or thirty miles from our camp, to secure some
much-needed supplies. It was the middle of winter, and an exceptionally
cold and severe winter at that. Fresh meat was naturally very scarce, and
the wolves were becoming bolder and more fearless every day. At night
they used to prowl close about the camp, and howl until we got up and
plugged one or two of their number, after which they generally dispersed
for a time.

"Well, as I have said, it became necessary for me to take the journey for
supplies, so one winter's morning I hitched up the team to a rude sort
of home-made sled I had made and started off for Belford. The snow was
quite deep and, needless to say, there had not been enough travel along
the trail to pack it down. The horses made heavy going of it, but we got
there at last, and glad enough I was to get inside the shack that served
as the general store and warm my half frozen hands and feet at the red
hot stove.

"After I was comfortable once more I made my purchases, and after loading
them into the sleigh said good-by to the boys and started out on the
return journey.

"It was a mighty long trip for the horses, but they were a young team,
full of fire and life, and I thought we could make back the same day
without much trouble. And likely enough we would have, with time to
spare, if it hadn't started to snow; lightly at first, but getting
thicker all the time. The horses had started out toward home at a brisk
trot, but they gradually slowed down to a walk, and once or twice I had