my hair.

At last when the agony grew so intense that I felt I must shout for
help, the soft pit-pat of the animal's feet passed by me again, and was
followed by the sound of the man moving his moccasined feet, hardly
heard upon the boarded floor, and the stars were completely blotted out
by the closing door.

I started again, for there was a quick rustling sound now from my left,
and something passed me and made for the fire. Then came relief, for
there was no doubt this time--it was Quong softly laying fresh pieces of
wood on the embers to keep the fire going till morning.

I lay back thankfully, determined to speak to him as he came back, and
ask him if he had heard a noise. But I did not; he was so long in
coming; and when I did speak it was to Gunson, who was getting up, and
the grey light of morning was now filling the room, battling with the
glowing fire. For I had been asleep after all, and I began to ask
myself whether I had dreamed about the Indian and the wolf.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

LEAVE-TAKING.

A few minutes after I saw how darkness and fancy can combine to startle
one who wakes suddenly from sleep, for the man who had been Mr Raydon's
companion on the previous day suddenly made his appearance silently at
the door and walked in, his deerskin moccasins making no sound as he
came towards us. He was followed by a great fierce-looking dog, about
whose neck was a formidable ruff of loose hair, and as he trotted
towards me I saw in them the Indian and the wolf of my scare.

"Morning," said the man, quietly; "needn't ask you how you slept. I
came in late to see if the fire was all right, and you were all fast.
Here, Rough--quiet! Better make friends with him at once," he
continued, turning to me.

For, after sniffing at Gunson, and Esau, who got out of his way as soon
as possible, the dog turned his attentions to me, smelling me all round,
as if to try whether I was good to eat, and then uttering a low deep
growl, to indicate, I suppose, that he was satisfied that I was a
stranger.

"Well," I said, laying my hand upon his head, feeling nervous though not
showing it, "are we to be friends?"

There was a deeper growl, and two fierce eyes glared up at me, while I
fully expected that my hand would be seized. Then there was a slight
agitation of the great fluffy tail, which began to swing slowly from
side to side, and before I knew what was about to happen the great beast
rose up, planted it