THE WOLF PACK
When Felix found himself alone he set about doing a number of things
which he had in mind, meaning to tackle the wood problem when it got
later in the afternoon.
Time passes quickly when any one is busily employed, and so the hour
slipped by almost before he knew it. From some distance away there
suddenly came the report of a rifle. Felix listened eagerly, but no
second shot sounded. This seemed to tell him that none was needed.
"I reckon Tom got what he wanted that time," he said to himself, as he
went on doing what had engaged his attention; "when he lets go,
something generally drops. Makes my mouth water, just to think of having
a saddle of venison hanging up here for a starter. And then it'll be my
turn next to make a try. Yes, Tom was right; and it sure does look like
we were going to have the time of our lives up here in this Rocky
Mountain foothills country."
He remembered after a bit that there was only a scant amount of wood
handy, and that Tom had hinted about laying in a further supply.
"Guess I'll just get a bucket of water, and then take to the axe for a
spell," he remarked to himself, for, like a good many other people,
Felix was quite food of talking to himself when alone.
Among other things they had found an old but serviceable galvanized
bucket, which Old Sol had carefully greased, and put away for future
use. It had taken Felix not a little time to get it in fairly decent
shape again; but it would hold water, and that was a fortunate thing.
Under such conditions campers have no right to be overly particular
about the looks of things; and a little rust never hurt any one yet,
Felix stoutly declared.
So, taking the bucket, he set out for the spring, which happened to be
about two hundred feet away from the dugout.
No doubt Sol Ten Eyck was fully aware of the existence of that same fine
spring when he started to locate his trapping cabin here in the
wilderness; in fact it had everything to do with his selecting that
particular locality for putting up his dugout-shack.
He had told Tom that that spring must be connected with some of those in
the National Park; because, no matter how cold the winter was, it never
froze up. What water came from it might get as hard as anything in the
zero temperature; but as for the spring itself, it continued to cheerily
bubble forth all through the wintry weather, defying Jack Frost to seal
its mouth.
Felix was thinking of his chum as he made his way toward the spring.
Doubtless he pictured Tom as busily engaged preparing the carcass of the
deer for transportation to the camp; and he could in imagination almost
see the pleasure his cousin was taking in his work.
"There never was a better chum than Tom," Felix was saying to himself,
as he dipped his bucket carefully into the water; and then, noticing
that in approaching too closely he had caused the water to become
slightly "roiled," he poured this away, and stooping there, waited a few
minutes until it should settle again.
A sound caught his hearing that caused him to quickly look up, and then
turn his head. What he saw gave the boy a thrill such as he had seldom
experienced before.
One, two, three savage looking animals were standing there, staring at
him in a hungry way, just as though they considered themselves in good
luck to come upon a dinner so easily.
They had all the appearance of dogs, but although Felix could not own up
to any considerable experience with wolves, he knew in a flash that that
was what these visitors must be.
And they looked dangerous, too. A single wolf is a cowardly beast, and
will almost always slink away from a human being; but when in company,
or running with a pack, he becomes an entirely different sort of animal.
At such times, especially when sharp pressed by hunger, in the middle of
the winter, he will break into the sheep-fold of a farmer, and even pull
down a running horse that has been exhausted by a long flight.
Felix had read many a wild story of wolf hunts in Russia; and knew with
what fierceness the animals on the Siberian steppes often chase
travelers in native vehicles, frequently devouring men and horses.
So he did not underestimate the wolves that so suddenly appeared before
him as he stooped over the spring, bucket in hand.
It flashed upon him that save for his hunting knife he was wholly
unarmed just then; for his trusty Marlin had of course been left in the
cabin; and what use would a five inch blade be against a trio of active,
vigorous and reckless wolves, bent upon securing a dinner?
He stood up, and took a step toward the cabin. Ominous growls greeted
the act, as though they would warn Felix that they did not mean to allow
him to gain the shelter of his fort.
Felix had another thrill about that time. The first had meant only
excitement; but this went further, and whispered of alarm as well.
How they bared their white fangs, and raised the long hair on their bony
shoulders, to show that they were primed for fight.
The boy realized that unless he proved himself quick-witted the chances
of his ever getting to where he could snatch up his good rifle, and give
them what they deserved, would be pretty slim.
At such a time as this the brain works as if on fire. It seemed to Felix
as though a score of things flashed through his mind at the same
instant. He wondered if he could frighten the animals by dashing at
them, waving his arms, and letting out a few wild whoops, for sometimes
wolves are sent into a panic by the sound of the human voice.
But if the expedient failed, why, it would bring him all the sooner to
grips with the three hairy scamps that seemed to invite a trail of
strength, and resourcefulness.
How about the bucket--could he knock upon the bottom with his knuckles at
the same time, and add to the din, so as to produce a temporary fear in
their hearts?
The cabin was only two hundred feet away, and Felix just knew he could
fairly fly over this distance, given half a chance; but if they
recovered soon enough to leap after him, was he not likely to have them
on his back before he could get inside and slam the door shut?
But something _must_ be done!
He could see them edging a little closer all the while, as though unable
to hold themselves wholly in check. And they were spreading out more in
the shape of a fan, too, as if they knew the best way to trap him.
Whatever was to be done, he must lose no more time about it, or the
attack would follow, and then it would be too late to devise any scheme
looking to creating a diversion.
It seemed as though just at that instant Felix remembered something that
promised to open up a possible avenue of escape.
When he was sitting there, resting for a few minutes, he had picked up
the newspaper that had been wrapped around some of their smoked meat.
Despite its greasy condition Felix had become interested in an article
on some subject of surgery that happened to catch his eye. This he had
partly read through; and then, wishing to complete a certain task with
which he was engaged, he had doubled the paper up, and unconcernedly
thrust it into a rear pocket; little dreaming how in doing this he might
have been actually saving his own life. So do trifles sometimes turn out
to be of the greatest moment.
This paper, with its greasy surface, would make a fierce flame, if only
for a brief time; and he always carried a bountiful supply of matches
along with him; for Tom had advised this, as a precaution, in case he
ever became lost, when each one would be worth a priceless sum.
No sooner had the idea flashed into the mind of Felix than he put his
hand around, in hopes of feeling the doubled paper. His heart was in his
throat when at first he failed to touch anything, then he remembered
that it was in the other hip pocket he had thrust the paper.
So he drew it out, rustling in a manner that elicited a fresh chorus of
snarls and growls from the three guards, who stood between him and the
shack where safety for him lay.
Crunching the paper up, Felix next sought for a match. He had a little
safe in one pocket of his trousers; but so clear was his mind at this
critical stage of the game that he instantly remembered placing several
matches loosely in the side pocket of his coat, where he could get at
them more easily when starting a fire for supper.
So ugly did the wolves act about this time that he was almost afraid
they were determined not to wait any longer, but proceed to open
hostilities. And so he continued to talk, and call out at them the
while, in hopes of averting the crisis until he had started things
moving himself.
Straight ahead of him lay the dugout. Once he began running he must make
record time, and keep in a direct line for the door. How fortunate that
he had left this wide open when starting after that bucket of water! All
he would have to do would be to fly through that friendly aperture,
snatch hold of the door, and fling it back of him. Then his next move
would be to make one leap for the corner where the Marlin stood; once he
felt its convincing metal in his hands, and after that he would not care
a snap of his fingers for all the timber wolves that existed within a
radius of ten miles.
All these preliminaries Felix seemed to settle, just like a great
general would his plan of campaign; only he had to do it out of hand.
The impatient and hungry wolves would not wait his pleasure; they wanted
things to be moving along.
Felix had let the empty bucket drop to the ground when his brilliant
scheme came flashing into his mind, so that both his hands were free to
conduct the work he had arranged.
First of all was the striking of the match, and this he would have to
accomplish along one leg of his trousers, as Tom always did. The act was
greeted by more nasty and irritating snarls, as the three wolves moved
still closer, hardly able to hold back longer.
When the flame of the match was communicated to the greasy newspaper, of
course it flashed up splendidly.
This was his chance, and delay now would be apt to injure his prospects
of being able to reach the shelter of the cabin.
So Felix began to wave his flaming torch, made up of the twisted
newspaper, and at the same time sprang straight at the three wolves. He
knew that such a move would add to their temporary panicky state of
feeling and give him a chance to cover some ground.
And as he started to jump at them, he also called out at the top of his
voice, and waved both arms, as though he might be an animated human
windmill in action, bearing down upon them.