"He answered, 'It was I. I saw a beast about the size of a large dog, and with great red eyes. I believe, on my word, it was a wolf.' "'Was it at him you fired?' "'No. I cannot lift my gun on account of my arm. I fired on the ground to scare him. He has gone now.' "Solange reflected for a moment. 'Will he come back?' "'I am afraid he will,' answered the lad. 'Solange, you will have to stay, or that beast will eat me.' "'Well,' she said, 'I will stay. Let me have the gun.' "She took it, put in a fresh cartridge, and they both waited. "An hour passed. The moon, as yet invisible, had risen, however, above the horizon, for the zenith reflected a confused light, which was gradually growing more intense. Laurent felt the fever coming upon him. He shivered and moaned. Solange, half frozen, as she stood leaning against the tree, was beginning to feel drowsy. Suddenly a bark--a sort of howl like that of a dog at night when it is tied--made her start. In the faint light she saw two red eyes fixed upon her. It was the wolf. Laurent tried to rise and take his gun, but the pain flung him back with a cry. "'Load, Solange,' said he. 'Do not fire too soon, and aim between the eyes.' "She shouldered, aimed, and fired, but the gun recoiled and missed aim. The beast was untouched. It ran off a short way down the road. Then it was heard howling at a distance, and other howls came in answer. "The moon was climbing the sky. It suddenly passed the dark mass of the thickets and flooded the entire forest as the footlights illumine the scenery on the stage. Then Solange and Laurent saw this horrible sight: at a few feet from them five wolves were seated on their haunches, drawn in line across the road, while another, bolder than the rest, was walking slowly toward them. "'Listen,' said Laurent. 'Aim at that one that is coming. If you bring him down, the others will eat him, and they will leave us in peace in the mean time.' "The wolf continued to advance with short, cautious steps. They could now see his bloodshot eyeballs distinctly, the protruding rings of his spine, the sharp bones of his carcass, his dull hair and his open jaw, with the long tongue hanging out. 'Hold the butt-end well in the hollow of your shoulder. Now fire.' "There was a report; the beast leaped to one side and fell dead without a groan. The whole band galloped off and disappeared in the copse. "'Run, Solange!' cried Laurent; 'drag him as far as you can along the road. There is no danger; the others will not come back for a while yet.' "She had started, when he called her back. 'It might be just as well to cut off that beast's head on account of the reward.' "'Have you a knife?' asked Solange. "'Yes; in my belt.'