These noises, I may here say, were caused by the wolves; for the savage brutes occasionally came near the settlement, attracted by the sheep and cattle which the inhabitants had brought with them.  A bright look-out being kept, however, it was seldom that any of our stock was carried off.  Bears also occasionally came into the neighbourhood; and we had already shot two, whose skins supplied us with winter coats.  Our intention was to kill as many more as we could meet with, that their skins might serve us for other purposes--especially as coverlets for our beds.  And, besides, their flesh was always a welcome addition to our larder.