the presence of an enemy.

The shining eyes appeared to multiply. All at once a dog was heard to
utter three distinct barks. Was it a dog? No. The long and piteous
howl that followed told that the animal was no dog, but a wolf--_the
barking-wolf (Canis latrans_). The moment it had ceased, another took
up the strain, and then another and another, until the woods rang on all
sides with their hideous howls. This did not come from any particular
side, but seemed everywhere; and as the boys looked into the dark aisles
between the tree-trunks, they could perceive glancing eyes--a perfect
circle of them all around!

"Bah!" cried Basil, now breaking silence, "it's only a pack of
prairie-wolves. Who cares for their howling?"

The minds of all were thus set at rest. They had no fear of
prairie-wolves; which, though fierce enough when attacking some poor
deer or wounded buffalo, are afraid of anything in the shape of man; and
will skulk off, whenever they think the latter has any intention to
attack them. This, however, is seldom the case, as the prairie hunter
does not care to waste a bullet upon them; and they are often permitted
to follow, and squat themselves unmolested around the hunter's camp,
within reach of his rifle.

The prairie-wolves are much smaller than any other species of wolf found
in America. They are not much larger than English terriers, and quite
as cunning as the English fox. They can hardly be caught or trapped in
any way--though they can be easily run down with horses and dogs. They
are of a dull, reddish hue, mixed with a grizzle of white hairs. This
is their usual colour, though, like other animals, there are varieties.
They have thick bushy tails, black at the tips, and one-third the length
of their bodies. They resemble the dogs found among the prairie
Indians, of which they are, no doubt, the progenitors. They are met
with throughout all the regions from the Mississippi westward to the
Pacific, and southward into Mexico. They hunt in packs, like the
jackals; and will run down deer, buffaloes, or any other animals which
they think they can master. They dare not attack a buffalo in the herd,
though packs of them always follow a drove of these animals. They wait
until some one gets separated--a young calf, or, perhaps, a decrepit old
bull--which they fall upon and worry to pieces. They follow all parties
of hunters and travellers--taking possession of a camp-ground, the
moment its o