Malchus dropped the noose over one of their necks, and with an effort, hauled it to the bough, and despatched it with his dagger.  Then he moved along the bough and hung it on a branch some ten feet from the ground, slashing open with his dagger its chest and stomach.  Having done this he returned to his place.  Six wolves were one after the other so hauled up and despatched, and as Malchus expected, the smell of their blood rendered the pack more savage than ever.  They assembled round the foot of the tree, and continued to spring at the trunk, making vain endeavours to get at the supply of food which hung tantalizingly at so short a distance beyond their reach.

So the day passed as before without signs of rescue.  When it became dark Malchus again descended to the lowest trunk, and fired his three remaining arrows among the wolves below him.  Loud howls followed each discharge, followed by a desperate struggle below.  Then he tumbled from their position the six dead wolves to the ground below, and then as noiselessly as possible made his way along a bough into an adjoining tree, and so into another, till he had attained some distance from the spot where the wolves were fighting and growling over the remains of their companions, far too absorbed in their work for any thought of him.

Then he dropped noiselessly to the ground and fled at the top of his speed.  It would be, he was sure, some time before the wolves had completed their feast; and even should they discover that he was missing from the tree, it would probably be some time before they could hit upon his scent, especially, as, having just feasted on blood, their sense of smell would for a time be dulled.  His previsions were accurate.  Several times he stopped and listened in dread lest he should hear the distant howl, which would tell him that the pack was again on his scent.  All was quiet, save for the usual cries and noises in the forest.  In two hours he saw a distant glow of light, and was soon in the encampment of his friends.

“Why, Malchus!” his comrades exclaimed as he entered the tent, “where have you been these two days?  Why, you are splashed with blood.  Where are Halcon and Chalcus?”

“Dead,” Malchus said —­ “devoured by wolves.”

A cry of horror broke from the three young guardsmen.

“`Tis too true,” Malchus went on; “but give me food and wine.  I have neither eaten nor drunk for the last two days, and I have gone through a terrible time.  Even now I seem to see all round me countless cruel eyes, and hungry open mouths with their red tongues.”

Seeing that Malchus was utterly worn and exhausted his companions hastened to place food and drink before him before asking any further questions.