THE BACK-WOODSMEN.



longed to his master, and he had often fed and ca-
ressed them. To his great relief, as soon as they
heard his voice, they ceased barking. But a new dif-
ficulty quickly presented itself. Recognizing in Isaac
a friend, the dogs ran up to him and commenced to
jump and frolic about him. By this time the boys
could plainly hear the Indians coming toward them.
Something had to be done at once. Isaac's presence
of mind did not desert him. Seizing the meat which
he had taken with him, he threw it to the animals.
They at once left the log and commenced to eat it.
   When the Indians came up they saw the animals
busy devouring the meat, and, supposing that the
fugitives, in their flight, had thrown it to them to pre-
vent them from pressing too hard, did not stop to
make an examination, but ran forward still more ra-
pidly, expecting soon to overtake their prey. In a
short time the dogs trotted on. Happily the Indians
did not return. The boys remained concealed during
the day, and, when the evening appeared, left the log
and continued their flight. When the second morning
dawned, they again sought a hiding-place, and, glad
of the opportunity, lay down and slept during the
day, resuming their journey with the first shades ot
night.
  Isaac now regretted having sacrificed the whole
of his meat to the dogs. He had thus far been able
to satisfy his own and his companion's hunger, for,
besides the venison, he had brought a small supply
of corn-bread. But this was now entirely consumed.
Joseph despaired. "We shall die of hunger," he



600