After a considerable pause, a gun was again fired, this time much nearer to them.  Charlie drew out his pistol and was about to reply, when his companion touched his arm.

“Look!” he said.

Charlie turned in time to see several gray forms flit rapidly between the bushes.  He stepped to the edge of the road, and saw some wolves spring out through the bushes, and go straight along the road.

“What can have scared them?” he asked, in surprise.  “The gun was not near enough for that.”

“No, besides they would have fled deeper into the forest, instead of taking to the road.  Perhaps they hear something coming.”

Almost at the same moment, two shots were heard in the direction towards which the wolves were making.

“That is it!” Charlie excitedly exclaimed.  “Another body of wolves have attacked a passing traveller.  Heap the wood on, Stanislas.  If we make a great fire, and they get as far as this, possibly they could spring off and take refuge here.  At any rate, the brands will be better weapons even than our axes.”

The ends of such branches as they were able to move were brought together, and a few blows with their axes speedily broke off several of the outer ends of charred wood.  These were thrown on, and the fire soon blazed up high again.

Two more shots were heard, this time close at hand.

They ran into the road.  A sledge, with several figures in it, was coming along at full speed.  It was almost surrounded by wolves, and, as they looked, two of them sprang at the horses’ heads; but two shots again rung out, and they dropped backwards among their companions, many of whom threw themselves at once upon their bodies, while the sledge continued on its headlong course.

“Here! here!” Charlie shouted at the top of his voice, waving his hands to show the direction which they were to take.

A moment later the sledge dashed past them, and swept up to the fire.

“Seize the blazing brands!” Charlie shouted, as those in the sledge threw themselves out.

He and Stanislas rolled the two first wolves over with their pistols, and then joined the others.

The driver had run at once to the horses, and had muffled them, by throwing his coat over the head of one, and a rug over the head of the other, and, though snorting and trembling in every limb, they stood quiet until he had thrown a head rope round each of their necks, and fastened them to the heaviest of the branches.  Then he seized a handful of fallen leaves, which were exposed by the melting of the snow above them, and threw them into the fire, whence a dense smoke poured out.

The wolves had again stopped to devour the two animals that had been shot, and this gave time to the men, by their united efforts, to move a heavy branch and place it across two others, whose ends lay in the fire, so as to form with them a sort of triangular breastwork, the face of which, next to them, was manned by the two travellers, their servants, Charlie, and Stanislas, with blazing brands.