Furthermore, the instant the live wolves had finished devouring the dead one, Reddy was to pitch out another skin, of which there were many about the hut, of foxes, rabbits and other small animals, which the trapper had collected.
This, they agreed, would probably keep the wolves occupied for awhile, until Tom had got a good start down the trail.
Tom slipped his feet in the snowshoes and stood by the door waiting.
While the wolves howled and fought over the rabbit skin, bang went the rifle.
"I got him!" cried Reddy.
In an instant Tom Gray had flung open the door and was off down the trail.
As he had expected, the live wolves were hungrily eating the dead one and had not apparently even noticed his departure.
The boys and girls in the hut sat breathlessly waiting, while Reddy watched the famished animals gorge themselves with the blood and fresh meat of their comrade.
Reddy had rolled up a fox skin into a small bundle, and was prepared to pitch it out to them the moment they had finished.
Just as they had lapped the last drop of blood, he cast out the skin.
They sniffed at it a moment, gave a long, disapproving howl, that sent the cold chills down the spines of the prisoners, and then made off down the trail after Tom Gray.
Reddy gave a loud exclamation and jumped down from the bench.
"_They have followed Tom!_" he cried, in a high state of excitement.
There was a long pause.
"We'll have to go, then," said David finally.

"Girls, you are safe as long as you stay inside the hut, and some of us at least will be able to bring help before long." With that, all three of the boys, for Hippy was no coward, in spite of his size and appetite, rushed out of the hut and disappeared in the wood.
The afternoon shadows were beginning to lengthen when Grace fastened the latch and returned to the fire where her three friends sat silent, afraid to speak for fear of giving way to tears..