Part 3 (2/2)
We had nowwhich enabled us to see the river fro quite civilised, and were beginning to look like being in thethe houses, and streets, and people
”Sure, they'll be afther co one of these days,” he added
”When that happens, it will be ti further ard,” observed Uncle Mark
A violent stor about our heads, brought the ”Indian summer” to a conclusion, and the frost set in soon afterwards
One evening, after the day's as over, and supper had been finished, ere sitting in our hut eht, when a lol reached our ears
”What is that?” I exclaimed
Before Uncle Mark could make answer, the hoas answered by another; and presently, others joining in, the whole forest reverberated with achorus
”Wolves!” said Uncle Mark ”The frost has driven the a raid on our porkers and cattle We ht-about, or they will beco to Mike and Quauns and sticks The htly, so we required no torches We h rocks which formed the bank of the river, but after a while the howls appeared to coreater distance than before
Uncle Mark now called a halt ”The brutes hear us, and are retreating,”
he said ”Keep silence for a few ht of them”
Under his directions I seated myself on the trunk of a tree, while he and the twoeyeballs, and soon another wolf came into view
”Get your rifles ready,” whispered Uncle Mark ”You, Roger, shoot the one to the left I will aim at the next Mike and Quaood account of the whole pack”
As he finished speaking I fired, followed by Uncle Mark and the other men; and, as the result, four wolves rolled over dead The rest of the off to a safe distance, from whence only their howls reached us Uncle Mark, however, did not consider it prudent to follow the they would probably have retreated out of shot; for wolves, though they will follow a fugitive, like other savage ani secured the skins of those we had killed, although they were of no great value, we returned homewards
After this we had alternately rain and frost, with a few fine days, till the snow came down, and the winter commenced in earnest But ere all pretty well inured to it Indeed, except when the wind bleere in the habit of hewing in the forest with our coats off; and even then we often found it hot work
Mike came back one day from the settlement--where he had been sent for a few stores and powder and shot--with the information that a party of lumberers had coreat lake, and that the ”boss” had sent a ganger to hire hands, more of anted
”A few dollars of ready cash would be very acceptable,” observed Uncle Mark ”What say you, Roger? We'll start away, and spend a month or so with them We can take Mike with us, while Quas”
I was ready, of course; and so, as my uncle was aWe were all good skaters; and although, during the first part of our journey, we should be unable to make use of our skates, we settled to carry the taken breakfast, were ready to start,--our provisions consisting of flour-cakes and cold pork, with a pot and pannikins Mike also carried his fiddle hung around his neck
”It will help to aossoons--and maybe put a few dollars in my pocket,” he re, when the work is over for the day, and they are afther sharpening their axes”
We had but one gun with us, which Mike carried, as ished to travel with as little encu off, Uncle Mark recollected that he had forgotten to write to Uncle Stephen upon a o on ahead,” he said, ”while I finish my letter, which I will leave with Quambo to be forwarded; and I will soon overtake you”
As there was now light enough for us to see our way through the forest, we co road, seeing there was but one--along the course of the streaer river; and it was now frozen in such a , and I was glad of his coood start of et a shot at so