“Pooh!” Cnut said contemptuously.  “Wolves are no bigger than dogs.  I have heard my grandfather say that he shot one in the forest, and that it was no bigger than a hound.  We should make short work of them.”

“I know not,” Cuthbert said.  “I have heard tales of these animals which show that they must be formidable opponents.  They hunt in great packs, and are so furious that they will attack parties of travellers; many of these have perished miserably, horses and men, and nothing but their swords and portions of their saddles have remained to tell where the battle was fought.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

Sentenced to death.

Just before arriving at the refuge, they had passed along a very steep and dangerous path.  On one side the rock rose precipitously, ten feet above their heads.  On the other, was a fall into the valley below.  The road at this point was far wider than usual.

Presently, the howl of a wolf was heard near, and soon the solitary call was succeeded by the howling of great numbers of animals.  These speedily surrounded the hut, and so fierce were their cries, that Cnut changed his opinion as to the ease with which they could be defeated, and allowed that he would rather face an army of Saracens than a troop of these ill-conditioned animals.  The horse trembled in every limb at the sound of the howling of the wolves; and cold as was the night, in spite of the great fire that blazed on the hearth, his coat became covered with the lather of fear.  Even upon the roof above the trampling of the animals could be heard; and through the open slits of the windows which some travellers before them had stuffed with straw, they could hear the fierce breathing and snorting of the savage beasts, who scratched and tore to make an entrance.

“Methinks,” Cuthbert said, “that we might launch a few arrows through these loopholes.  The roof appears not to be over strong; and should some of them force an entrance, the whole pack might follow.”

Dark as was the night, the black bodies were visible against the white snow, and the archers shot several arrows forth, each stretching a wolf dead on the ground.  Those killed were at once pounced upon by their comrades, and torn to pieces; and this mark of savageness added to the horror which those within felt of the ferocious animals.  Suddenly there was a pause in the howling around the hut, and then Cnut, looking forth from the loophole, declared that the whole body had gone off at full speed along the path by which they had reached the refuge.  Almost immediately afterwards a loud shout for help was heard, followed by the renewed howling and yelping of the wolves.

“Good heavens!” Cuthbert exclaimed.  “Some traveller coming after us is attacked by these horrible beasts.  Let us sally out, Cnut.  We cannot hear a Christian torn to pieces by these beasts, without lending him a hand.”