bbling the grass and looked at me in
dumb, helpless inquiry. If he would only go home the empty saddle might
tell the tale and bring help. But his very faithfulness kept him waiting
hour after hour while I was perishing of cold and hunger.

Then I remembered how old Girou the trapper had been lost, and in the
following spring his comrades found his skeleton held by the leg in a
bear-trap. I wondered which part of my clothing would show my identity.
Then a new thought came to me. This is how a wolf feels when he is
trapped. Oh! what misery have I been responsible for! Now I'm to pay for
it.

Night came slowly on. A prairie wolf howled, the pony pricked up his
ears and, walking nearer to me, stood with his head down. Then another
prairie wolf howled and another, and I could make out that they were
gathering in the neighborhood. There I lay prone and helpless, wondering
if it would not be strictly just that they should come and tear me to
pieces. I heard them calling for a long time before I realized that
dim, shadowy forms were sneaking near. The horse saw them first, and his
terrified snort drove them back at first, but they came nearer next
time and sat around me on the prairie. Soon one bolder than the others
crawled up and tugged at the body of his dead relative. I shouted and he
retreated growling. The pony ran to a distance in terror. Presently
the wolf returned, and after after two or three of these retreats and
returns, the body was dragged off and devoured by the rest in a few
minutes.

After this they gathered nearer and sat on their haunches to look at
me, and the boldest one smelt the rifle and scratched dirt on it.
He retreated when I kicked at him with my free foot and shouted, but
growing bolder as I grew weaker he came and snarled right in my face.
At this several others snarled and came up closer, and I realized that I
was to be devoured by the foe that I most despised; when suddenly out
of the gloom with a guttural roar sprang a great black wolf. The prairie
wolves scattered like chaff except the bold one, which, seized by the
black new-corner, was in a few moments a draggled corpse, and then, oh
horrors! this mighty brute bounded at me and--Bingo--noble Bingo, rubbed
his shaggy, panting sides against me and licked my cold face.

"Bingo--Bing--old--boy---Fetch me the trap wrench!" Away he went and
returned dragging the rifle, for he knew only that I wanted something.

"No--Bing--the trap-wrench." Th