"Just as I told you," continued Roger, trembling all over with eagerness, "he has used up his arrows, and is trying to cut down the number of his four-footed enemies by other means." "There, listen to that howl!" "Oh! he made a splendid strike that time, Dick!" "Yes, and you can see what that clever brave is up to, if you notice the wild scuffle at the foot of the tree," the other replied. "Why, the wolves seem to be fighting among themselves, Dick. What makes them act that way, do you know?" "I can give a guess. These mad animals are almost starving, though just how that should be, at this season of the year, I am not able to say. The scent of blood makes them wild, you see, and, every time the brave's knife wounds one of the pack, the rest set upon the wretched beast to finish him." "In that way the Indian could clean them up in time, I should say, without any help from us," Roger suggested, though he showed no sign that his intention of giving aid had changed in the least. "But they might take warning, and stop jumping up at him," Dick explained; "then his knife would be useless. And, too, other wolves hearing the noise are apt to hasten to the spot, so that there might be an increasing pack, a new one for every beast he helped to kill." "Dick, he is a brave fellow, even if his skin is red!" "I agree with you there," said the other, softly. "Then are we not going to bring about his rescue, even if it does cost us some of our precious powder and shot?" Roger demanded. "Yes, but I hope it will not be more than one load," replied his cousin; for all their lives this question of a wastage of ammunition had been impressed on their minds as the utmost folly, and on that account they seldom used their guns except to make sure of worthy game. "Come, let us rush forward with loud yells, waving our arms, and doing everything we can to scare the animals off before we begin to fire. After we get close up, and they are hesitating what to do, that is the time for us to blaze away." "A good plan, Roger, and worthy of our fathers' old friend, Pat O'Mara. Only as a last resort will we use our fire-arms." "And you be the one to say when, Dick, remember!" "Depend on me for that," Roger was told quickly. "Just as soon as I see that something is needed to force the ugly beasts to make up their minds, I'll call out to you to give it to them." "Give me one last word of advice before we rush them, Dick." "Yes, what is it, Roger?" "If, instead of taking to their heels, the pack turns on us, and starts to fight, what must we do?" "There isn't one chance in ten it will happen that way," said Dick, "for wolves are too cowardly. When they see us rushing boldly forward you'll notice how every beast's head will droop, and that he'll begin to skulk away, showing his teeth, perhaps, but cowed and whipped." "But suppose it should?" urged Roger, as they paused, just before bursting out upon the strange scene.