If a heavy snow should come, the chances of killing anything fit to eat would be diminished tenfold, for hares, rabbits, and squirrels would stay at home; and further, the journey towards a district where they were safe to meet with plenty of animals (elk, caribou, etc., that had just migrated to the forest from farther north) would occupy thrice the time they had allowed for it. "You and I must take watch and watch to-night," said Head to his servant, not unmindful, in face of new dangers, of the likelihood of their guide's playing them false. "We don't want any of this good man's 'surprises'; if you turn in when you've had your supper, I'll call you soon after midnight and we'll change guard." Immediately after supper the Indian rolled himself in his blanket and Head was left to amuse himself. When his man roused him at six the next morning, he found the ground more than a foot deep in snow, and the Indian, who was just returning from filling the breakfast kettle from the stream hard by, greeted him with the news that the ice was several inches thick. But, he added, there would be no fear of famine; they would have sport enough before the day was out. "What sport?" "Wolves!" The Cree smacked his lips as if he were speaking of a Mansion House banquet. "Ah! Then that is what I heard just as I was falling asleep." "Most likely; their track lies all round our camp; not close, for they feared our fire." "Is there more snow to come, do you think?" None was falling now. "Not unless the wind gets up again. But we ought soon to be moving; it will be bad going for the horses." The hardy little mustangs seemed not a whit the worse for their snowy bed, and stepped out bravely as soon as they were mounted. But Head pulled a long face as he remembered how little corn he had brought with him; truly the cobbler's wife was going the worst shod; he who had control of the entire military commissariat for that district had left the food for his men and horses to chance, on a journey of sixty miles, twenty-five of which had still to be covered! Of course, the pace they made was wretched, for the snow was fetlock-deep at the best; and, at the worst, it had risen to drifts of ten feet, which had to be dodged or skirted. Three miles an hour was the utmost that could be expected, making allowances for everything; and by the time the horses had gone twelve miles, it was clear that they must have a rest. "So our next meal is to be wolf, eh?" said Head as he surveyed a lump of salt beef of which none would be left when three men with frost-sharpened appetites had eaten their fill. The Indian nodded. "And they are not far away; I have heard them for the last hour. The horses can smell them now; you will find that they will not touch their oats." This was true; two of the tethered animals crouched shiveringly, disdaining their food, while the third strained at his halter as though he meditated flight.