For some time the two men amused themselves with watching the movement of vague forms on the edge of the firelight. By looking closely and steadily at where a pair of eyes burned in the darkness, the form of the animal would slowly take shape. They could even see these forms move at times.

A sound among the dogs attracted the men's attention. One Ear was uttering quick, eager whines, lunging at the length of his stick toward the darkness, and desisting now and again in order to make frantic attacks on the stick with his teeth.

«Look at that, Bill,» Henry whispered.

Full into the firelight, with a stealthy, sidelong movement, glided a doglike animal. It moved with commingled mistrust and daring, cautiously observing the men, its attention fixed on the dogs. One Ear strained the full length of the stick toward the intruder and whined with eagerness.

«That fool One Ear don't seem scairt much,» Bill said in a low tone.

«It's a she-wolf,» Henry whispered back, «an' that accounts for Fatty an' Frog. She's the decoy for the pack. She draws out the dog an' then all the rest pitches in an' eats 'm up.»

The fire crackled. A log fell apart with a loud spluttering noise. At the sound of it the strange animal leaped back into the darkness.

«Henry, I'm a-thinkin',» Bill announced.

«Thinkin' what?»

«I'm a-thinkin' that was the one I lambasted with the club.»

«Ain't the slightest doubt in the world,» was Henry's response.

«An' right here I want to remark,» Bill went on, «that that animal's familyarity with campfires is suspicious an' immoral.»

«It knows for certain more'n a self-respectin' wolf ought to know,» Henry agreed. «A wolf that knows enough to come in with the dogs at feedin' time has had experiences.»