“Do you think they will run away if we go out after them?”
“Not if they are very hungry. Remember, a hungry animal is always desperate.”
Sleep was now out of the question, and they took turns in watching the foxes from the entrance to the snow hut. It was too cold to remain outside long.
“They are coming closer,” announced Andy, after two hours had passed. The foxes had stopped barking some time previously.
The report was true. The beasts were coming up stealthily, moving a foot or two, and then stopping to reconnoiter.
“I’ll give them another shot from the gun,” said Chet, and was as good as his word. This time two of the foxes were killed, and almost immediately their companions fell upon the carcasses, and began to tear them apart.
“That shows how hungry they are,” declared Barwell Dawson.
“Shall we give up the bear to them?” asked Chet.
“Not yet—but we may have to do so in order to escape them,” answered the explorer, with a doubtful shake of his head.
Another hour went by slowly, and by shouting they managed to make the foxes keep their distance. But then the animals commenced to come closer once more, slowly but surely encircling the snow hut.