thy of his
fangs. And he conducted his reconnoitring with more care. Then he came
upon the carcass of a sheep, torn and partly eaten. It was almost like
a wolf's work--though less cleanly done--and the smell of the cold
trail was unmistakably dog. The black-backed wolf was puzzled. He had
a vague notion that dogs were the protectors, not the hunters, of all
the four-legged kindred belonging to men. The problem seemed to him an
important one. He crouched in ambush near the carcass to consider it
for a time, before setting out upon his own sheep-hunting.

As he crouched, watching, he saw the killer approach. He saw a tall,
lean bitch come up, tear carelessly at the dead sheep for a moment or
two, in a manner of ownership, and turn to leave. She was as long in
leg and flank as himself, and possessed of the like punishing jaws;
but she was not so massive in the shoulder. The wolf felt that he
could master her in combat; but he felt no disposition for the fight.
The dog-smell that came to his nostrils did not excite the usual hot
aversion. On the contrary, it made him desire to know more of the
sheep-killing stranger.

But acquaintance is not made lightly among the wild kindred, who are
quick to resent a presumption. The wolf slipped noiselessly back into
his covert, emerged upon the farther side of the thicket, and at a
distance of some twenty paces stood forth in the glimmering light. To
attract the tall bitch's attention he made a soft, whining sound.

At the unexpected noise behind her the bitch wheeled like lightning.
At sight of the big wolf the hair rose along her back, her fangs bared
themselves dangerously, and she growled a deep note of challenge. For
some seconds the wolf thought she would fly at him,; but he stood
motionless, tail drooping humbly, tongue hanging a little way from his
lips, a soft light in his eyes. Then he sat back upon his haunches,
let his tongue hang out still farther, and drooped his head a little
to one side--the picture of conciliation and deference.

The long-jawed bitch had never before seen a wolf, but she recognized
him at once as a natural enemy. There was something in his attitude of
unoffending confidence, however, which made her hesitate to attack,
although he was plainly a trespasser. As she eyed him, she felt her
anger melting away. How like he was to certain big, strong dogs which
she had seen once or twice in her wanderings with the peddler! and how
unlike to the diminutive,