As he was taking possession of his modest
store of eatables he suddenly heard a noise which set his heart thumping
in a miserable fever of fear. 'There was a scraping and shuffling as of
some animal or animals trying to climb up to the footboard. In another
moment, through the snow-encrusted glass of the carriage window, he saw a
gaunt prick-eared head, with gaping jaw and lolling tongue and gleaming
teeth; a second later another head shot up.
"There are hundreds of them," whispered Abbleway; "they have scented us.
They will tear the carriage to pieces. We shall be devoured."
"Not me, on my name-day. The holy Maria Kleopha would not permit it,"
said the woman with provoking calm.
The heads dropped down from the window and an uncanny silence fell on the
beleaguered carriage. Abbleway neither moved nor spoke. Perhaps the
brutes had not clearly seen or winded the human occupants of the
carriage, and had prowled away on some other errand of rapine.
The long torture-laden minutes passed slowly away.
"It grows cold," said the woman suddenly, crossing over to the far end of
the carriage, where the heads had appeared. "The heating apparatus does
not work any longer. See, over there beyond the trees, there is a
chimney with smoke coming from it. It is not far, and the snow has
nearly stopped, I shall find a path through the forest to that house with
the chimney."
"But the wolves!" exclaimed Abbleway; "they may--"
"Not on my name-day," said the woman obstinately, and before he could
stop her she had opened the door and climbed down into the snow.
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