7

and ears intent, they kept increasing their
speed.

That low distant murmur on their left
had now grown into yelps and barks. The
pack were upon their scent, and soon would
be on the ice. The boys still had two miles
to go. Would they reach the shanty in time?
They were gliding at their utmost speed.
urged on by the the nearness of their pursuers.
The fierce wretches had changed their
course so that they enterred the lake on
the side and not at their back. In a few
moments they would catch up.

"Here Charles," said Frank giving him his
hand, "we'll sink or swim together as we
have, old fellow, for years."

The thin ice along the shore considerably
retarded the progress of the pack, cutting
and wounding many of them. Far ahead