Charlie and his companion hastily loaded their pistols again.  The two gentlemen had each rifles and a brace of pistols, as had their servants.  A lady and child had been lifted from the sledge, and these crouched down at the angle by the fire.  The sledge and the two horses protected one of the faces of the position, and the driver, at his master’s orders, took his position on the front seat again, so as to shoot down any wolf that might try to attack the flank of the outside horse.

The wolves looked doubtful at the appearance of the dense smoke rising up, but, after a little hesitation, they rushed to the attack.  Four were rolled over by bullets from the rifles, and, as they came within a few yards, the pistols cracked out in rapid succession.  As soon as these were all emptied, the six men caught up the blazing brands, and struck full in the faces of the wolves, shouting loudly as they did so.

Seized with a momentary panic, the animals turned and fled, and then a fierce fight took place between the injured wolves and their companions.  There was but just time to recharge the rifles and pistols, when they came on again.  Although the fire of the defenders was as deadly as before, the wolves seemed this time determined to get at their victims.  In vain were blows showered on their heads, while those who first sprang on the tree were stabbed with the knives the defenders held in their left hands.

The contest could have had but one termination, when suddenly two shots were heard, and then, with loud shouts, a party of men burst through the forest, and with pistol and axe fell on the wolves.  This unexpected onslaught had a decisive effect, and, with loud howls and yelps, the wolves turned and fled.

Up to this time, not a word had been exchanged by the defenders, beyond Charlie’s first shout of “Lay this branch across those two,” and the order of one of the gentlemen to the coachman to take his place in the sledge—­where he had done his work well, for four wolves lay dead by the flank of the outside horse.  Several of those that had sprung at the heads of the horses had been shot or cut down by the master, who had placed himself close to them, and the horses’ thick mufflings had saved them from any serious injury.

As soon as the wolves fled, the gentleman turned to Charlie, and, flinging down his weapons, threw his arms round his neck.

“You have preserved us from death, sir.  You have saved my wife and child from being torn to pieces.  How can I express my thanks to you?”

“It was fortunate that we happened to be here,” Charlie said, “and that we had this fire handy.”

A cry from the child called off the gentleman’s attention, and he ran to his wife, who had sunk fainting on the ground; and Charlie, not a little pleased at this diversion, turned to Ladislas and his men, who were looking on with the most intense astonishment at the scene.  Charlie leapt over the branch, and grasped Ladislas by the hand.