ar mustn't be any shootin' at close quarters.
Use yer knives, or else swat her over the head with yer clubbed guns.
We're bound t' git Sallie this time, by hook er by crook! Ready, son?"

Both boys declared that they had no reason for delaying matters. Since
it had been decided as best to invade the wolf den, the sooner they
started, the better.

True, Bob thought that had it been left to him, he would have first
tried to smoke out the occupants of the cleft, waiting near by to shoot
them down as they rushed out of the depths. But then Hank was directing
matters now, and whatever he said must be done.

Besides, Hank had known wolves ever since he first "toted" a gun, now
more than fifty-five years ago. Perhaps he understood how difficult it
is to smoke out a pack of wolves, that invariably seek a cave with a
depth sufficient to get away from all the influences of the smudge.

Without the slightest hesitation Old Hank got down on hands and knees,
and began to crawl into the gaping mouth of the crevice.

It did not go straight in, but seemed to twist around more or less. All
the while the two boys kept close at the heels of the guide who carried
that flaring torch. They watched ahead to detect the first sign of the
enemy; and had their ears on the alert with the same idea in view.

Stronger grew the odor that invariably marks the den of carnivorous
animals.

"We ought to stir her up soon now, Frank," whispered Bob, on whom the
strain was bearing hard, since he was not used to anything of this sort.

"Yes, unless the sly old beast has a back door to her home; how about
that, Hank?" asked the cattleman's son.

"Don't reckon as how it's so," came the ready response. "In thet event,
we'd feel a breath of fresh air; an' ye knows as how we don't. Stiddy
boys, keep yer wits about ye! She's clost by, now!"

"I heard a growl!" admitted Bob.

"And there were whines too, from the half grown cubs," ventured Frank.

"Once we turn this bend just ahead, likely enough we'll be in the mess,"
Bob remarked.

"Range on both sides of me, boys," directed Hank, halting, so that they
could overtake him; because he knew full well that the crisis of this
bold invasion of the she-wolf's den was near at hand.

In this fashion, then, the three turned the rocky corner.

"I see the yellow eyes!" whispered Bob, beginning to bring his gun-stock
nearer to his shoulder. "Say, there's a whole raft of 'em, Frank!"

"Sure," came the quick re