Another three minutes, and it would have been all over with us." "Yes, I could see it was a close thing as soon as I caught sight of you.

We have been wondering all night what became of you, and set out as soon as it was light.

We fired a shot occasionally, but we listened in vain for your three shots." "We fired them half an hour after daylight," Charlie said; "but, as we had then only five charges left between us, and there were wolves all round, we dared not waste them." "We heard firing at last," the captain went on.

"First two shots faintly, then two nearer, and a minute later two others.

We knew then that you must be engaged with wolves, and we were running as hard as we could in the direction of the shots, when we heard a number fired close together.