The Russian was borne to the ground. He was up in a minute with a terrible cry, and seizing the wolf in both his great hands, he plucked him from him; then, turning, he threw the animal squarely into the pack as it dashed upon him. The pack gave back and Boris took advantage of that moment to spring within the hut and slam shut the door; even as the wolves, recovering, leaped against it. Inside the two fugitives hurriedly barred the door and sank to the floor, tired out from their exertions. "Safe!" panted Jack at last, getting to his feet. "I guess so," returned Boris. "They can't get in here unless there is a window open. Look around quickly." They explored the hut in the semi-darkness--a faint light reflected from the snow without permitting them to see. Examining the window through which the light came Jack found it covered by glass. "Guess they won't try that way," he said. "You never can tell," replied Boris with a shake of his head. "If they are really desperate and hungry, they may try to spring through. The first would break the glass and the others would have no trouble getting in." "Well, it's the only window in the place; we should be able to guard it," said Jack. He looked about the floor and at last picked up a big log that lay before the old fireplace. It was heavy, but the lad wielded it without difficulty. "We should be able to hold them off with this," he said. The Russian looked at the weapon and nodded. "By the Czar!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea you could handle that weight so easily." "As I told you before, I am no weakling," replied Jack quietly. "We shall take turns at the door. I suppose the pack will draw off with the coming of day?" "It depends," said Boris, "upon how close we happen to be to other human beings. If we are close to the railroad, where men pass frequently, the pack will probably draw off at daylight. If not, we shall have to stand a siege." At that moment there was a sound of crashing glass and both looked toward the window just in time to see a huge grey shape come flying through and alight upon its feet on the floor. Jack raised his log and would have brought it down on the animal's head, but Boris cried: "Guard the window! I'll take care of this one." Jack leaped to obey and arrived just in time to bring the log crashing down on another head as it showed itself. While Boris struggled with the wolf inside, the lad disposed of four of the enemy. Boris and the wolf that had succeeded in gaining an entrance sprang toward each other at the same moment. Both were wounded already, Boris with a bite in the shoulder from the animal he had encountered before entering the hut, and the wolf from a cut inflicted by the ragged pieces of glass as he passed through the window.