Dave was well aware of their danger. He had heard of a hunter being killed by a wolverine and heard Sam Barringford say that the beast was the most treacherous of animals. If cornered a wolverine will often fight to the death, no matter what the odds. It has been known to attack animals much larger than itself. The two young hunters reloaded with speed and kept their eyes on the fallen trees. They saw a branch move, but could not see the wolverine. Dave, it must be confessed, began to grow a trifle nervous. “Do you see him?” he asked, after fully a minute had passed. “No, but—— There he is! Look out!” The wolverine had appeared on one of the highest of the tree-branches. He made a lightning-like leap and gained one of the neighboring trees. Dave took a quick shot, but missed his mark. Then the body of the wolverine was hidden by the broad tree-limb. “Let us get out of this,” said Dave. “Before we know it, one of us will get hurt.” “I am going to kill that wolverine,” answered Henry, determinedly, all his hunting instinct on edge over what had already occurred. “What’s the use? He is no good for meat.” “The beast is not going to get the better of me.” Henry walked around the tree with care. He got a slight glimpse of the wolverine’s bushy tail, but that was all. “Can you see him, Henry?” “I know where he is. I think I can make him move.” Henry picked up some snow, made a snowball, and threw it at the bushy tail. There was a snarl and a snap, and down into the snow leaped the wolverine, all ready for a fight. As soon as the beast landed Dave fired. As luck would have it, the wolverine was hit in the side and turned over and over, sending the snow in all directions. “I’ve got him! I’ve got him!” called out the young hunter, excitedly. “I reckon I’d better finish him,” answered Henry, and once again his rifle spoke up. At once the whirling of the wolverine ceased, and he stretched himself out on the snow. “My gracious! that was a fight,” observed Dave, wiping the cold perspiration from his forehead. “I don’t wonder some folks think there is nothing so savage as a wolverine.” “We want to be on guard still,” said Henry. “Load up. His mate may be around here, and they say a she-wolverine is ten times worse than a he-one.” “She’ll certainly be bad enough when she learns that we have killed her mate.” “We may as well give up hunting around here,” went on Henry. “Our shots have probably scared away any deer that may be in this vicinity.” “We can look for small game, Henry. I don’t want to go back empty-handed.” “Listen!” The two young hunters were reloading, when Henry uttered the exclamation. “What did you hear?” asked Dave. “Sounded to me like a wolf, and it was pretty close too.” “I hope we don’t meet any wolves in this forest!” cried Dave. Both listened, and soon heard three more wolves. They were coming along the trail made by the wolverine and the youths.