They hurried along for a few minutes and then Lucky, who was a few feet ahead of Jack, suddenly stopped and raised his rifle. Instantly a shot rang through the woods followed by a loud yelp of pain. Jack hurried to his side and from there could see the pack as they gathered about the foot of the tree. But at that moment they were engaged in a mad fight to see which should get the choicer portions of their fallen comrade.
"Let heem have eet," Lucky shouted, and Jack began pumping lead into the pack as rapidly as he could work the ejector.
Wild yelps of pain mingled with the fierce growls of combat filled the air. Then, just as Jack had emptied the magazine of his rifle, one of the wolves saw them and with a sharp bark of anger left the pack and sprang toward them. Jack saw that the wolf would be upon them before he could get his rifle loaded and cast a quick glance at the Indian. But he too had exhausted his magazine and was hurriedly loading. The wolf was now only a few feet away and behind him were several others and he knew there was not an instant to lose. Dropping his gun he snatched his automatic from his belt and, just as the leading animal was about to take the final spring, he fired. The huge wolf fell dead at his feet a bullet in his brain, but another was upon them almost instantly. Jack fired again, but this time he must have missed for the wolf did not stop and before he could fire again he was upon him. As they came to the ground Jack succeeded in getting a firm hold on the long hair at the beast's neck and, pushing with all his strength, he was able to keep the huge jaws away from his throat. Over and over they rolled in the snow, but almost at once the boy heard the crack of Lucky's rifle and knew that the Indian had loaded and was firing again.
After what seemed a long time and just when it seemed that he could not hold those terrible jaws away another instant he heard a muffled shot close at hand and instantly he felt a convulsive shudder pass through the wolfs body and the head fell forward in his grasp. Flinging it from him he sprang to his feet.
"Heem hurt you?"
"Only a few scratches I reckon," Jack panted. "Where are the rest of them?"
"Them run, but we kill most all."
Jack quickly glanced toward the tree, but only the still forms lying on the snow met his gaze.
"Bob must be up that tree," he said as he looked about for his automatic which had fallen from his hand when the wolf hit him. He located it almost at once and, shoving it into his belt, he picked up his rifle and started for the Indian who was already nearly to the tree.
"Bob! Bob! Oh Bob!" he shouted as he ran.