This was the signal for the other "wolves" to howl, and the most
unearthly noise come from all sides of the house.
These were followed by a perfect fusillade of rifle and revolver shots
from everywhere, most of them aimed at the cupola.
But as soon as Ted had fired the shot that had brought down the man wolf
he had jumped through the scuttle into the attic of the house, and the
balls harmlessly riddled the cupola.
From a window on the second floor Ted saw a score or more of forms leap
into prominence; the forms of men who cast aside their skins of wolf,
and who had turned their wolfish howls into the scarcely less fiendish
yells of men.
At the sight he rushed downstairs, and found the boys hastily gathering
in the dark living room, arming themselves from the gun rack, and taking
their places beside the windows.
In the middle of the room stood the major, supporting with one arm the
unsteady form of his brother Frederic, who had risen at the first alarm
in spite of his wound, and who insisted upon fighting with the rest.
"The Gray Wolves have come," he said. "They will be hard to drive off.
But you must do it, or go yourselves."
Stella and the young Japanese girl were standing at one of the windows
peering fearfully out.
"Come away from there, Stella," said Ted.
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