“How did they happen to get so close?” Mitchell asked.
“I must have fallen asleep,” admitted Ralph. “First thing I heard was the roar of the westbound plane going over and then I saw a whole circle of hungry eyes looking at us. They were crouched, ready to spring, when the sound of the plane distracted them. It gave me just time enough to get into action with the gun.”
“Good thing you did or all that would have been left of us by morning would be soup bones,” grinned Mitchell. “I’ve had all the thrills I want for one night. I’m not going to risk going to sleep again.”
The reporter and the mail flyer sat up and talked for the remainder of the night.
At the first lightening of the sky, they resumed their journey toward the plane. In the clearing they left the bodies of four wolves and further along the trail they found the body of a fifth, the one which had leaped upon Ralph.
They finally reached the wreck of the mail plane and continued until they came to the clearing where Ralph had left his ship.
“Not any too much room to get out of this pocket,” commented Mitchell as he surveyed the tall pines which enclosed the valley.
“I had to fish tail in and dodge a few trees doing it,” replied Ralph. “But if I got in I guess I’ll be able to get out all right.”
Mitchell rested in the snow while Ralph unlashed the plane and turned it around. Then the reporter boosted the flyer into the mail cockpit and prepared for the take-off. He primed the motor and felt that luck was with him when it started easily.
Mitchell leaned out of the mail cockpit and shouted back at Ralph.