They were far away as yet, but the wolves were gathering.
Without trying to reason further, Stella gathered up what food she could carry, and, grasping her rifle, struck out into the forest in the direction away from that from which the howls of the wolves came to her.
Suddenly to one side appeared a slinking, gray form, which slunk along, apparently dodging behind the trees, but following her.
As it came from behind a tree in fair sight, she swung her rifle to her shoulder and fired.
It was a strike, for the wolf, with a howl of pain sprang in the air, then rolled over on the snow and lay still.
As the report of the shot reverberated back from the mountains, it was followed by a perfect crescendo of wolf howls.
They sounded louder and nearer now, and Stella's heart began to beat rapidly with fear.
Too well she knew what would happen if they caught her.
But suddenly a thought came to her, and she stopped.
Surely Ted and the boys would come to find her. They might even now be on the way, and who could say they were not far away?