about three o'clock in the afternoon
Slowly he approached and surveyed it , comparing it with his diagram . At length he saw a point that seemed to resemble the one he sought , and after studying it a moment , started to see if he could find the succeeding one . Coming close to a dark opening , he was startled by fierce growls , and the next instant half a dozen fierce wolves sprang from it , and set upon him savagely . It was about three o'clock in the afternoon , and the attack was so sudden and unexpected that Barnwell was completely off his guard at the moment . One of the fiercest wolves , hungry , huge and gaunt , sprang at his throat and bore him to the earth . Seizing the brute by the throat with both hands , he with almost superhuman strength dashed him away long enough to rise to his knees and to pull his revolver , the other wolves having by this time joined savagely in the attack . Unable to get upon his feet , he poked the muzzle of his pistol straight into the mouth of the now risen wolf , as he again came towards him , and fired .