was a wilful little rascal with a mind of his own. He took to the
Wolf because it had killed a Dog that had bitten him. He thenceforth
fed the Wolf and made a pet of it, and the Wolf responded by allowing
him to take liberties which no one else dared venture.

Jim's father was not a model parent. He usually spoiled his son, but at
times would get in a rage and beat him cruelly for some trifle. The
child was quick to learn that he was beaten, not because he had done
wrong, but because he had made his father angry. If, therefore, he
could keep out of the way until that anger had cooled, he had no
further cause for worry. One day, seeking safety in flight with his
father behind him, he dashed into the Wolf's kennel, and his grizzly
chum thus unceremoniously awakened turned to the door, displayed a
double row of ivories, and plainly said to the father: "Don't you dare
to touch him."

If Hogan could have shot the Wolf then and there he would have done so,
but the chances were about equal of killing his son, so he let them
alone and, half an hour later, laughed at the whole affair. Thenceforth
Little Jim made for the Wolf's den whenever he was in danger, and
sometimes the only notice any one had that the boy had been in mischief
was seeing him sneak in behind the savage captive.

Economy in hired help was a first principle with Hogan. Therefore his
"barkeep" was a Chinaman. He was a timid, harmless creature, so Paul
des Roches did not hesitate to bully him. One day, finding Hogan out,
and the Chinaman alone in charge, Paul, already tipsy, demanded a drink
on credit, and Tung Ling, acting on standing orders, refused. His
artless explanation, "No good, neber pay," so far from clearing up the
difficulty, brought Paul staggering back of the bar to avenge the
insult. The Celestial might have suffered grievous bodily hurt, but
that Little Jim was at hand and had a long stick, with which he
adroitly tripped up the Fiddler and sent him sprawling. He staggered to
his feet swearing he would have Jim's life. But the child was near the
back door and soon found refuge in the Wolf's kennel.

Seeing that the boy had a protector, Paul got the long stick, and from
a safe distance began to belabor the Wolf, The grizzly creature raged
at the end of the chain, but, though he parried many cruel blows by
seizing the stick in his teeth, he was suffering severely, when Paul
realized that Jim, whose tongue had not been idle, was fumbling away
wi