b 9~
70.

nearest beast. The doorwas too rickety to keep the enemy out; but had time to push himself through the broken roof and get on top of, the cabin. The wolves wore now furious. Rushing into the hut, they jumped and snappéd at him, so that Dj~k almost felt their teeth. It required the greatest activity to keep his logs out of their reach.

	Notwithstandin~: his agonizing terror, he still clung to his fiffle. Now, in desperation, as he was kicking his foot in the air to avoid their stáel like fangs, he drew his bow shrieking across the strings. The yel1s~1nstant1y oeased. Dick continued to make the most frightful spasms of sound, hut the wolves could not long endure bad fid~Iling. As soon as the first surprise was over the attack was renewed mo~e furiously than ever.

	A monstrous head ~as now thrust up between the boards of the roof, .~only a few inches from Dj~k. He gave himself up for lost. But the excess of terror seemed to stimulate him, so that almost of their own accord his fingers began to play “Yankee~Doodle.“ Instantly there was cc~plete silenoe~ The silence continued as long as ho continued to play; but the moment he ceased the listeners again became furious, and rushed on with increased ferocity.

	Uncle Diokts pride as a fiddler was flattered. Ii~ entered for a*hiie completely into the spirit of the thing. But never before had he played to an audienoe SO fond of music. They pO~aitted no pause. his enthusiasm began to give way to cold and fatigue. lie was tired to death and almost frozen.

	What was to be done? There sat the listeners with tongues lolling and ears pricked up, allowing not a moments pause, but demanding an uninterrupted stream of music. Severaiweary houes passed, and Uncle Dickwas almost exhausted. ‚ „ S • ‚.

	But all this while the wedding ośapany had been anxiously expecting their nuis ician. l3ec cm~ng at ‚ last impatient or alarmed, some of them set out

i~.	searoli for ‚hirn. They fowid him on t~op ‚ Of: the -hul:, still se~wing away for • ‚ . • :