when he saw that it was not an Indian, but some kind of a wild animal.
It was but a short distance off, and between him and the outer edge of
the grove.

There being no one to replenish the fire, the light had grown dimmer,
but a quick, shadowy flitting told Fred the brute was moving briskly
about, only a few paces from where the lad was straining his vision to
learn its nature.

"We might as well wind up this business," reflected Fred, as, with his
hand on the trigger of his Winchester, he started abruptly in the
direction of the stranger. The latter was quick to perceive him and
whisked away. The lad followed, breaking into a trot despite the
intervening trees. The beast continued fleeing, for nothing so
disconcerts an animal as the threatening approach of a foe.

It was but a few paces to the edge of the timber, when the brute leaped
out into full view in the star-gleam.

One glance was sufficient for the youth to recognize it as an immense
wolf, which had probably been drawn to the spot by the odor of the meat
that composed the dinner of the party. Fifty feet off the wolf stopped,
turned partly about, and looked back at his pursuer, as if to learn
whether he intended to follow him farther.

Fred did not, but the opportunity was too good to be lost. The aim was
inviting, and, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, he sighted as best he
could and pulled the trigger. He could not have done better had the sun
been shining. The bullet passed directly through the skull of the wolf,
which uttered a sharp yelp, leaped several feet into the air, and,
doubling up like a jack-knife, fell upon his side, where, after several
convulsive struggles, he lay still.

Naturally enough, the boy was elated over his success, for the shot was
certainly an excellent one.

"There!" he said. "Jack frightened off the Indians, and I think I have
given the wild animals a good lesson. At any rate, _you_ won't bother us
any more."

He supposed that the report of the gun would awaken Hazletine and bring
him to the spot to learn the explanation, but nothing of that nature
followed. If the report disturbed him, he merely opened and closed his
eyes, and continued to slumber, after the manner of one who appreciates
the value of rest.

In truth, it was always a matter of wonderment to the boys that their
veteran guide adopted the course he followed that night. That actual
danger impended was proven by the incidents already narrated, and yet he