operations which Ernest bore with stoical firmness, he went down
to the salon where his daughters were anxiously expecting him. "All
about it, please. We have heard nothing, for Harry went upstairs
with Ernest, and has not come down again."

The marquis told the whole story, how the wolf had made his escape
unseen through the cordon round his lair, and had passed within the
sight of the two boys some distance away, and how they had hunted
it down and slain it. The girls shuddered at the story of the death
of the wood-cutter and the short but desperate conflict with the
wolf.

"Then Ernest has the principal honour this time," the eldest girl
said.

"It is pretty evenly divided," the marquis said. "You see Ernest
brought the wolf to bay by breaking its shoulder, and struck the
first blow as it was flying upon Harry, who had been thrown from
his horse. Then, again, Ernest would almost certainly have been
killed had not Harry in his turn come to his assistance and dealt
it its mortal blows. There is not much difference, but perhaps the
chief honours rest with Ernest."

"I am glad of that, papa," Mademoiselle de St. Caux said; "it is
only right the chief honour should be with your son and not with
this English boy. He has had more than his share already, I think."

"You would not think so if he had saved your life, sister," Jeanne
broke in impetuously. "It was very brave of them both to kill the
wolf; but I think it was ever, ever so much braver to attack a