showing its teeth.

Dick realized that he was in great danger, for the wolf was a big fellow, indeed, and would have given the youth a good fight, even had his hands and feet been free. As it was, with both hands and feet tied, Dick felt that the chances were that he would be chewed up.

Closer and closer came the wolf, and although Dick kept yelling at him, and moving his legs as threateningly as possible, the animal would not retreat. Closer and closer he came, until his nose was within six inches of the youth’s body; then, as he seemed on the point of springing upon him, Dick pushed out his arms suddenly, in an effort to frighten the wolf away. Instead, however, the wolf made a quick snap, and seized the rope in its teeth. In some manner the teeth became fastened in the rope, and as the animal leaped backward, in alarm, Dick was pulled off the bunk, and came to the floor with a thump.

This frightened the animal still more, and he went clawing backward across the room, trying to get his teeth loose, and presently his teeth, being sharp, cut through the rope, weakening it so that Dick was able to snap the remaining strands, and his arms were free.

The wolf, however, angered, again sprang at Dick, and the youth, being unable to get out of the way owing to his feet being tied, seized a stool that was at hand and struck at the wolf, causing the animal to struggle back, with a snarl of rage.

Then ensued a battle such as is seldom seen--a youth with his ankles bound, fighting against a hungry wolf, his only weapon being a clumsy stool.

Snarling, snapping, springing at the youth, the now infuriated animal kept at work, and Dick rolled over and over, now and then striking at the wolf with the stool, hitting it too occasionally, but this seemingly only serving to make the animal the more fierce and angry.

It was indeed a fierce battle, and there was no telling how it would end, for the gaunt, hungry wolf was a very dangerous antagonist. But Dick fought on with desperate energy.