to the heart of the forest.
Then I heard a wolf howl on my right, and from the left came answering
howls, and these, again, were answered by others in front of and behind
me. I walked on boldly, for I dared not stay, guiding myself by the sun,
which from time to time shone down on me redly through the boughs of the
great trees. Now I could see forms grey and black slinking near my path,
sniffing at the air as they went, and now I came to a little open place,
and, behold! all the wolves in the world were gathered together there.
My heart melted, my legs trembled beneath me. On every side were the
brutes, great and hungry. And I stood still, with club aloft, and slowly
they crept up, muttering and growling as they came, till they formed a
deep circle round me. Yet they did not spring on me, only drew nearer
and ever nearer. Presently one sprang, indeed, but not at me; he sprang
at that which sat upon my shoulders. I moved aside, and he missed his
aim, and, coming to the ground again, stood there growling and whining
like a beast afraid. Then I remembered the words of my dream, if dream
it were, how that the Dead One had given me wisdom that I should be king
of the ghost-wolves--I and another whom a lion should bear to me. Was it
not so? If it was not so, how came it that the wolves did not devour me?

"For a moment I stood thinking, then I lifted up my voice and howled
like a wolf, and lo! Umslopogaas, all the wolves howled in answer with a
mighty howling. I stretched out my hand and called to them. They ran to
me, gathering round me as though to devour me. But they did not harm me;
they licked my legs with their red tongues, and fighting to come near
me, pressed themselves against me as does a cat. One, indeed, snatched
at him who sat on my shoulder, but I struck him with the Watcher and he
slunk back like a whipped hound; moreover, the others bit him so that
he yelled. Now I knew that I had no more to fear, for I was king of the
ghost-wolves, so I walked on, and with me came all the great pack of
them. I walked on and on, and they trotted beside me silently, and the
fallen leaves crackled beneath their feet, and the dust rose up about
them, till at length I reached the edge of the forest.

"Now I remembered that I must not be seen thus by men, lest they should
think me a wizard and kill me. Therefore, at the edge of the forest
I halted and made signs to the wolves to go back. At this they howled
piteously, as though in