ught
me to camp? Who killed that bear? Who saved our lives?"

"The Wild Hunter," replied Pete gravely. "He bathed my head with some
sort of good smelling stuff and, though I am as heavy as a dead
buffaler, toted me to camp; he 'lowed that I was all sort of shuk up and
a little hazy; he fixed my blanket, then he fotched you in on his
shoulders just as if you was a dead antelope, fixed you up with bandages
torn from handkerchiefs in your pocket, gave you a drink which you
didn't seem to appreciate, but just swallowed like you were asleep, then
he laid you out. I had my eye peeled on him but he said nary a word, an'
when we wuz both all comfortable he pulled out a long cigar, sot down by
the fire and was smoking tha' with his bird and his wolves around him
when I went to sleep.

"He cut his bullets out, as he allus does," muttered Pete a little while
later.

"Who cut what bullets?" I asked.

"Whomsoever cud I mean but th' Wild Hunter, and wha's tha' been any
bullets lately but in th' b'ar?" queried my companion.

"Yes, of course," I admitted, "but why do you suppose he cut out the
bullets?"

"Wal, I reckon tha' might be right scarce and he haster be kinder
sparing with them. I calculate you'd like to have a hatful of them
balls, leastwise most folks would; cause the Wild Hunter don't use no
common low-flung lead for his bullets, no-sir-ree bob-horsefly! Tain't
good 'nuff for a high-cock-alorum like him--_he shoots balls of virgin
gold!_"

But I was more interested in what had become of this strange man than in
the sort of projectiles rumor said that he used in his gun and so
dismissed the subject with a request for further information about our
rescuer.

"This morning when I opened my peepers," Pete continued, "I t'ought
maybe the Wild Hunter had only gone off on a tramp; but he's done clared
out for good, and tuk his wolves and bird with him. I'm some glad he
took th' wolves, I don't sorter like the look of their mean eyes; they
do say that he is a wolf himself and the head of the pack."

"What's that, Pete? Steady, old man, now let's go slow."

"All right; tha's wha' I mean ter do. 'Cause it hain't a varmint natur'
to help men folks, and he done helped us, and no mistake, and left us
the bulk of the b'ar too,--only took the claws, teeth and tenderloin or
two for himself and pack; that is, if he be a wolf. But we will settle
that if your foot will let you walk a bit."

"How far?" I asked.

"Only over yan