tree of any strength within his reach.  His legs hung within six feet of the surface of the snow.  The discharge had killed four or five of the wolves, but, undismayed, the remainder assailed him the more furiously.  The most active of them could easily spring as far up as his feet!  Never was terror more strongly depicted in the human face than it was displayed in Joe’s when he saw the whole pack rushing towards him!  They sprang up with fearful snarls and yells.  Joe yelled likewise, and doubled his knees up to his chin.  They missed his feet by several inches, and were borne out fifteen or twenty feet to one side by the impetus of the leap.  It was by a mighty effort that he thus avoided them, and no sooner had they passed under him than his legs again dangled downward.  In a moment they whirled round and were again rushing at their victim.  Once more Joe screamed, and drew up his legs while they passed under him.  “Help! help! for God’s sake!” cried he, when they whirled round again.  His cry was heard.  Several sharp reports resounded from the river bank, a few paces on the east.  Three or four of the wolves howled and fell.  The rest hesitated, their eyes glistening, and fixed on Joe’s suspended boots.  “Come quick! for Heaven’s sake!  I can’t pull up my legs any more!” cried Joe.  This was true, for his strength was fast failing.  The guns were again discharged with deadly effect, and all but one of the largest of the wolves precipitately ran off, and disappeared among the bushes.

“Jerk up your leg! that feller’s a going to take one of your feet along with him, if he kin!” cried Sneak.  Joe saw the wolf charging upon him, but he was altogether unable to avoid it in the manner he had done before.  It was now only a few feet distant, its mouth open, displaying a frightful set of teeth, and springing towards him.  Finding it impossible to prevent a collision, Joe resolved to sell his foot as dearly as possible.  As much as he was able, he bent up his knee-joints, and when his assailant came, he bestowed his heels upon his head with all his might.  The wolf was stunned, and fell under the blow.

“Take that!” cried Sneak, running up and plunging his knife into the animal’s side.  The wolf groaned and died.

“Ha! ha! ha! you were born to be hanged,” said Roughgrove, coming forward with Boone and Glenn, and laughing heartily.

“He has been hung,” said Boone.

“And almost quartered,” said Glenn.

[Illustration:  They sprang up with fearful snarls and yells.  Joe yelled likewise, and doubled his knees up to his chin.—­P. 136]

“Oh, goodness!  Jump up here, Sneak, and cut me loose,” said Joe, beseechingly.

“There’s no danger of you ever dying,” said Sneak.

“Oh, please don’t laugh at me, Sneak, but cut me down; that’s a good fellow.  The string is beginning to cut my wrist like fury!”

“How did you git in such a fix?” continued Sneak.