Hardly had he thought of this possibility when he was thrilled by a series of long howls, and looking back he discerned a dozen or more dark objects moving swiftly over their trail.
Not an eighth of a mile ahead was the tamarack forest.

Surely Rod could travel that distance! "Run for it, Rod!" he cried.

"You're rested now.

I'll stay here and stop 'em!" He loosened the other's arms, and as he did so his rifle fell from the white boy's nerveless grip and buried itself in the snow.

As he relieved himself of his burden he saw for the first time the deathly pallor and partly closed eyes of his companion.