a much larger and fiercer animal than
his prairie brother, and he did not altogether like this whining sound
which now rose and died for the third time.

"Must be a dozen or so," said the Panther, noticing the increasing
volume of sound. "We'll light the fire again. Nothing is smarter than a
wolf, an' I don't want one of those hulkin' brutes to slip up, seize a
fine piece of buffalo and dash away with it. But fire will hold 'em. How
a wolf does dread it! The little red flame is like a knife in his
heart."

They lighted four small fires, making a rude ring which inclosed their
leafy beds and the buffalo skins and meat. Before they finished the task
they saw slim dusky figures among the trees and red eyes glaring at
them. The Panther picked up a stick blazing like a torch, and made a
sudden rush for one of the figures. There was a howl of terror and a
sound of something rushing madly through the bushes.

The Panther flung his torch as far as he could in the direction of the
sounds and returned, laughing deep in his throat.

"I think I came pretty near hittin' the master wolf with that," he said,
"an' I guess he's good an' scared. But they'll come back after a while,
an' don't you forget it. For that reason, I think we'd better keep a
watch. We'll divide it into three hours apiece, an' we'll give you the
first, Ned."

Ned was glad to have the opening watch, as it would soon be over and
done with, and then he could sleep free from care about any watch to
come. The Panther and Obed rolled in their blankets, found sleep almost
instantly, and the boy, resolved not to be a careless sentinel, walked
in a circle just outside the fires.

Sure enough, and just as the Panther had predicted, he saw the red eyes
and dusky forms again. Now and then he heard a faint pad among the
bushes, and he knew that a wolf had made it. He merely changed from the
outside to the inside of the fire ring, and continued his walk. With the
fire about him and his friends so near he was not afraid of wolves, no
matter how big and numerous they might be.

Yet their presence in the bushes, the light shuffle of their feet and
their fiery eyes had an uncanny effect. It was unpleasant to know that
such fierce beasts were so near, and he gave himself a reassuring glance
at the sleeping forms of his partners. By and by the red eyes melted
away, and he heard another soft tread, but heavier than that of the
wolves. With his rifle lying in the hollow of his