Page 226 - A Jacobite Exile

by their side. It is easy to read the story. The sledge was attacked; the
horses, mad with fear, broke their traces and rushed off, or perhaps the

driver, seeing at the last moment that escape was impossible, slashed the
ropes with his knife, so as to give the horses a chance. I expect they got a

start, for the wolves would be detained a little at the sledge."

"Do you think the poor beasts will get safe out of the forest, Stanislas?"

"I don't think so, but they may. The chase has evidently been a long one,

and the wolves have tired themselves with their first efforts to come up to
them. It did not seem to me that they were gaining when they passed us. It
is simply a question of endurance, but I fancy the wolves will last longest.

"See, here is a party of stragglers. I suppose they stopped longer at the

sledge."

"It seems to me they are on our scent, Stanislas. Do you see, they are

coming along at the side of the road where we walked, with their heads
down."

"I am afraid they are. Well, we shall soon see. Yes, they are leaving the
road where we did."

A moment later a dozen wolves ran up to the trunk of the tree, and there

gathered snuffing and whining. Presently one caught sight of the two
figures above them, and with an angry yelp sprang up in the air, and
immediately all were growling, snarling, and leaping. Charlie laughed out

loud at their impotent efforts.

"It is no laughing matter, sir," Stanislas said gravely.

"They cannot climb up here, Stanislas."

"No, but they can keep us here. It will be dark in an hour, and likely enough

they will watch us all night."