“Wild beasts were not coming toward him, but a poor old woman, named Finn-Malin, who was in the habit of roaming about on highways and byways.  She was a hunchback, and slightly lame, so he recognized her at a distance.

“The old woman was walking straight toward the wolves.  The sledge had hidden them from her view, and the man comprehended at once that, if he were to drive on without warning her, she would walk right into the jaws of the wild beasts, and while they were rending her, he would have time enough to get away.

“The old woman walked slowly, bent over a cane.  It was plain that she was doomed if he did not help her, but even if he were to stop and take her into the sledge, it was by no means certain that she would be safe.  More than likely the wolves would catch up with them, and he and she and the horse would all be killed.  He wondered if it were not better to sacrifice one life in order that two might be spared—­this flashed upon him the minute he saw the old woman.  He had also time to think how it would be with him afterward—­if perchance he might not regret that he had not succoured her; or if people should some day learn of the meeting and that he had not tried to help her.  It was a terrible temptation.

“‘I would rather not have seen her,’ he said to himself.

“Just then the wolves howled savagely.  The horse reared, plunged forward, and dashed past the old beggar woman.  She, too, had heard the howling of the wolves, and, as the man from Hede drove by, he saw that the old woman knew what awaited her.  She stood motionless, her mouth open for a cry, her arms stretched out for help.  But she neither cried nor tried to throw herself into the sledge.  Something seemed to have turned her to stone.  ‘It was I,’ thought the man.  ’I must have looked like a demon as I passed.’

“He tried to feel satisfied, now that he was certain of escape; but at that very moment his heart reproached him.  Never before had he done a dastardly thing, and he felt now that his whole life was blasted.

“‘Let come what may,’ he said, and reined in the horse, ’I cannot leave her alone with the wolves!’

“It was with great difficulty that he got the horse to turn, but in the end he managed it and promptly drove back to her.

“‘Be quick and get into the sledge,’ he said gruffly; for he was mad with himself for not leaving the old woman to her fate.

“‘You might stay at home once in awhile, you old hag!’ he growled.  ’Now both my horse and I will come to grief on your account.’

“The old woman did not say a word, but the man from Hede was in no mood to spare her.

“’The horse has already tramped thirty-five miles to-day, and the load hasn’t lightened any since you got up on it!’ he grumbled, ’so that you must understand he’ll soon be exhausted.’

“The sledge runners crunched on the ice, but for all that he heard how the wolves panted, and knew that the beasts were almost upon him.