“If we were only near to a human habitation of some kind,” he muttered to Boris.
“Well, we may and we may not be,” was the reply. “But these fellows will follow us right to the edge of the city. It’s been a hard winter and they are hungry. Hear them howl?”
It was a blood-curdling sound that Jack heard then. It sent a shiver down his spine.
“It’s the call of the pack,” said Boris briefly. “They’ll be down on us in a moment. See, in the darkness back there now there are fully a score.”
For answer Jack got up to his feet and the long whip whistled through the air and over the horses’ necks. But the animals, too, had caught the scent of the wolves, and they needed no urging. They dashed forward. And at that moment Boris, glancing back, shouted:
“Here they come!”
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.