CHAPTER VI.
BESIEGED BY WOLVES.
This daring theft was so quickly done and over that the boys had nochance to shoot. The venison could be plainly seen, but only thecatamount's ears and tail were visible as he crouched behind it.
"The impudent brute," cried Brick. "That beats everything. We don't wantto lose the meat. Shall I try a shot?"
"Better let me," replied Jerry. "I think I see a chance. Keep back alittle."
The boys moved aside, and Jerry poked his rifle through the hole. Thehammer clicked. Then there was an anxious pause of half a minute.
"What's wrong?" whispered Hamp.
"Can't get a shot," was the reply. "The brute has dropped lower, andwon't stir. Wait a bit," Jerry added, as he withdrew the weapon. "Youfellows are going to see the liveliest sight of your lives. Here comethe wolves, and the catamount is growling like fury. He doesn't intendto let himself be robbed of that venison."
The boys all gathered before the hole, eager to witness the comingstruggle. They were too excited to bother much about their own peril.
Now the hungry pack scented the savory meat. The long howls changed toquick, shrill yelps. They were very close.
All at once the flames danced up around the logs. The red glare flashedto the top of the bluff. The catamount had shifted his position, and theboys saw him plainly. His great jaws were open, and his tail lashed thebrush angrily.
"What a chance!" whispered Jerry. "I could put a ball right throughhim."
"Don't spoil the fun," pleaded Brick. "The wolves will make an end ofthe brute."
"Don't be too sure of that," muttered Hamp.
However, Jerry had no intention of interfering. The opportunity ofridding the boys of a relentless enemy was imprudently allowed to slipby.
An instant later the scene changed. Out from the--forest broke twoshadowy gray forms, gaunt and ravenous with hunger. They darted at thevenison, snarling defiance. There was a lightning-like bound, and ascreech of fury.
For a few seconds the three animals were a shapeless, whirling tangle.Then the catamount tumbled out of the heap, and sprang back to thecarcass. One wolf lay dead and mangled on the snow. The other limpedinto the forest with dismal wails.
But the balance of the pack were close by. Out they leaped in twos andthrees, reckless of the firelight. White teeth gleamed and snapped inevery crevice of the timber.
The catamount screeched, and quivered for a second attack. Then italtered its purpose. It seized the haunch of venison, and attemptedto make off with it.
The wolves took this move for cowardice, and were emboldened. With achorus of howls they closed in. The struggle that ensued was simplyterrific. The catamount seemed to be everywhere at once. Its long, lithebody performed countless revolutions.
"Hurrah!" cried Brick, in great excitement. "This beats the old Romanshows. Do you think the catamount will be killed?"
"Not likely," replied Jerry, "but he'll lose the meat. There are toomany against him."
"That's so," exclaimed Hamp. "Look, fellows, look!"
Just then the catamount leaped clear over his circle of tormentors. Witha screech of baffled fury he bounded into the bushy limbs of a tall pinetree. He made his way into an adjoining tree, and then vanished.
Three wolves lay struggling in their death agonies on the snow. Here andthere limped crippled ones. The rest of the pack sprang at the venisonwith teeth and claws.
They muttered and yowled as they bit off great mouthfuls. New arrivalscame swarming from the forest. Soon more than a score of the gauntbrutes were assembled around the carcass.
The bones of the deer were soon polished cleanly. Then the famishedcreatures attacked the bodies of their comrades. Tiring of thiscannibalistic meal, they swerved to the edge of the glade, sniffed theair for a moment, and came leaping down the bank of the ravine. Thepatter of their feet was instantly all around the cabin. They brushedagainst the sides, and scratched at the interstices of the beams,howling and yelping like a troop of demons.
So sudden was the attack that the besieged lads were taken by completesurprise.
"We'll be torn to pieces," cried Brick. "They'll be through the door ina minute."
"No they won't," yelled. Jerry.
He hurled himself against the sled, which had actually begun to move.
"Keep cool, boys," he added. "It's our only chance. Fire away, and makeevery shot tell."
Then he poked his rifle under the doorway, and pulled the trigger. Thereport was followed by a yelp of agony. The wolves fell back a little.They had a wholesome fear of firearms.
Jerry reloaded his rifle, and jammed shells into his double-barreledshotgun.
"I'll guard this end," he yelled, hoarsely. "You fellows must take careof that."
"It's an ugly outlook," replied Hamp. "Here are your two guns, Brick.Keep them loaded. We've got four between us--six with Jerry's. Butwhere's the ammunition?"
"Here," and Brick tapped the cartridge belt that was strapped about hiswaist. "Help yourself, Hamp. Do you think we can pull through?"
There was no chance for reply. Jerry sounded a note of warning as thewolves came leaping at the cabin again.
A gaunt head suddenly shot through the aperture, and a pair of frothyjaws closed with a snap on the sleeve of Hamp's jacket. Brick instantlyreversed his rifle, and hit the brute a stunnning blow. The headvanished, and Hamp nervously examined his arm.
"Not a scratch," he muttered. "You hit him just in time, Brick. Now I'llpay the brute for his daring."
He poked his shotgun out, and fired both barrels. Jerry joined in with arattling fusillade.
"That hit something," he shouted. "Half a dozen of the varmints werescratching at the sled. I thought it would give way."
"We'll beat them off yet," gasped Brick. "Aren't they savage, though?They don't mind the fire a bit. Hullo! there's a paw sticking through.Take that."
"That" was a well-delivered charge of buckshot between the timbers ofthe cabin. A yelp of agony followed the report.
"Good!" applauded Jerry. "You'll do."
"Keep it up, fellows," yelled Hamp. "Plenty of powder and shot willtell. There, the brutes are falling back a little."
Hamp was right. The scratching at the cabin now ceased. But the hungrypack were loth to abandon their prey. Still they scurried here andthere. From the opening the boys could see the sinewy bodies and thegleaming eyes. Above the din of yelps and howls a shriller soundoccasionally rose.
It was probably the screech of the worsted catamount.
"Keep all the guns loaded," cautioned Jerry. "I don't believe we'llhave to do much more shooting, though. We've taught the wolves a bitterlesson. They know they can't make a meal of us."
But he had barely spoken when a scratching noise was heard overhead. Theentire cabin seemed to totter and sway.
"The pack are on the roof," cried Brick. "They must have climbed overthe rocks. Everything will be down on us in a minute."
"At least three or four of the brutes are there," declared Hamp. "Justhear them digging. Let's all fire together."
But before a single weapon could be raised the flimsy roof parted in thecenter with a dull, ripping noise. Through the gap tumbled a heap ofsnow from the trees above, and then followed a snapping, snarling wolf,landing squarely upon the terrified boys.