“As if the brute felt my wish, he turned his head in our direction. Instantly a deafening report seemed to blow up the cabin, and powder smoke hung thick over our heads. The dogs were so startled that they yelped and rolled over on the floor.
“There was not a sound from outside, and Hal smiled to himself.
“‘Bet I got him first try. Didn’t hear any objections from him, did you?’
“‘Gee! I wish we could open this door and drag him in before those wolves come back,’ I said, digging frantically.
“‘They won’t get back straight off. They have been whipped for the time and will be feared to try it again unless they get the scent of the dead bears,’ said Hal, digging away at the top of the drift while I scooped at the bottom.
“We finally managed to open the door enough to get out.
“The bear had dropped dead in his tracks. At his feet—but out of range of the chink of our door—lay the other, literally ripped to pieces by the wolves during the night’s battle. She had put up a fine fight, though, for the area all about her was covered with the bodies of the wolves she had slaughtered, and the snow was all trampled and red.
“The dogs ran out, their hair bristling along their spines as they sniffed at the carcasses.
“We heard the wolves’ howls from the pine woods, so we hurriedly dragged the bear Hal had shot inside the hut. We put the carcass in one corner of the room, which left us scarcely enough space to move around in.
“Hardly had the door been closed before the pack of wolves were upon it, scratching and tearing at the logs.