"'But it would waste a lot of valuable ammunition,' he replied.
"He set the trap where I had suggested, however, and said he would wait and see what happened.
"We felt better for that day's fresh air, but the storm settled down again during the night, and it was several days before it stopped snowing. The cold held on longer, but we knew it was clear by the bright gleam of light that filtered through our smoke-hole.
"'I wonder if we can get out to-day?' I asked, but at the same time howls were heard coming from the pines.
"'Guess you will do better to stay in to-day,' smiled Hal.
"That night we found it impossible to sleep, for the wolves howled madly just outside the hut, and some of them pawed at the smoke-hole so that Hal finally picked up a red-hot firebrand and poked it up through the opening just as one of the beasts tried to nose down into the hut. It must have caught him well, for he set up a terrific howling.
"The next night, as the wolves came back again to pay their nightly visit, we heard a new growl coming from a distance. I looked at Hal for information, and he chuckled with satisfaction.
"'Ha! I thought so! I was sure a bear would come along before long.'
"'A bear! Oh, I wish we could get him in that trap!'
"'He will come sniffing about that pit for meat, and if the wolves bother him they will most likely get into trouble,' said Hal, laughing.
"'Gracious, Hal! S'pose he gets our meat--what will we do?'
"'We'll have to prevent him from gettin' it, that's all,' said Hal, looking at his rifle to see that it was in good order.
"'Shoot him while he's busy with the wolves, or try and get him while he is digging at the pit.'
"'Wait and try the last plan. Let him kill off a pack of hungry wolves, and when he has driven them away he will come to the pit. Then is your time,' I said.
"'Kid, you're comin' on fine! Another season in the north and you will be a regular hunter,' laughed Hal.
"I saw that I pleased the old man, and felt happy that I could do it so easily. But my attention was attracted by the din of battle outside, as howls and snarls mixed together so furiously that the dogs huddled down in a corner of the hut and showed their teeth at the doorway.
"We couldn't tell from the sounds which was being worsted, but the fact that the wolves were so numerous led us to believe that they could finally tear to pieces any bear. Then, while we were checking off the howls, quite a singular snarl came from the opposite direction.