had left the carcass at
the waterside.

"Billy," he said to his young son, forgetting the darkness and the
dogs, "go fetch that swile up."

Billy was gone a long time.

"I wonder what's keepin' Billy," his mother said.

They grew uneasy, at last; and presently they set out to search for
the lad. Neither child nor seal did they ever see again; but they came
upon the shocking evidences of what had occurred.

And they blamed Tog of Buccaneer Cove.

* * * * *

For a month or more Tog was lost to sight; but an epidemic had so
reduced the number of serviceable dogs that he was often in Jim
Grimm's mind. Jim very heartily declared that Tog should have a berth
with the team if starvation drove him back; not that he loved Tog,
said he, but that he needed him. But Tog seemed to be doing well
enough in the wilderness. He did not soon return. Once they saw him.
It was when Jim and Jimmie were bound home from Laughing Cove. Of a
sudden Jim halted the team.

"Do you see that, Jimmie, b'y?" he asked, pointing with his whip to
the white crest of a near-by hill.

"Dogs!" Jimmie ejaculated.

"Take another squint," said Jim.

"Dogs," Jimmie repeated.

"Wolves," drawled Jim. "An' do you see the beast with the black eye?"

"Why, dad," Jimmie exclaimed, "'tis Tog!"

"I 'low," said Jim, "that Tog don't need us no more."

But Tog did. He came back--lean and fawning. No more abject contrition
was ever shown by dog before. He was starving. They fed him at the
usual hour; and not one ounce more than the usual amount of food did
he get. Next day he took his old place in the traces and helped haul
Jim Grimm the round of the fox traps. But that night Jim Grimm lost
another dog; and in the morning Tog had again disappeared into the
wilderness. Jimmie Grimm was glad. Tog had grown beyond him. The lad
could control the others of the pack; but he was helpless against
Tog.

"I isn't so wonderful sorry, myself," said Jim. "I 'low, Jimmie," he
added, "that Tog don't like _you_."

"No, that he doesn't," Jimmie promptly agreed. "All day yesterday he
snooped around, with an eye on me. Looked to me as if he was waitin'
for me to fall down."

"Jimmie!" said Jim Grimm, gravely.

"Ay, sir?"

"You _mustn't_ fall down. Don't matter whether Tog's about or not. If
the dogs is near, _don't you fall down!_"

"Not if I knows it," said Jimmie.

* * * * *