But he held on, and with an unnatural spasm of strength, drew himself and the clogging weight part way up, kicking both feet with the fury of despair.
The wolf held fast to one shoe, while the heel of the other was jammed into his eyes.

This, however, would not have dislodged him, had not his own comrades interfered, and defeated the brute by their own eager greediness.

Seeing that the first one had fastened to the prize, a half-dozen of them began leaping upward with the purpose of securing a share in the same.

In this way they got into each other's way, and all came tumbling to the ground in a heap.
Before they could repeat the performance the terrified lad was a dozen feet beyond their reach, and climbing still higher.
When Fred reached his former perch, he was in doubt whether he should halt or go still higher.

His heart was throbbing violently, and he was white and panting from the frightful shock he had received.
"That was awful!" he gasped, as he reflected upon what had taken place.
"I don't know what saved me from death! Yes, I do; it was God!" he added, looking up through the leaves to the clear, moonlit sky above him.