de a fearful howling
close at hand, and in the morning the carcass was completely hollowed
out by these voracious feeders.

After we had remained four days at this camp we prepared to leave it. We
had for our own part about five hundred pounds of dried meat, and the
California men had prepared some three hundred more; this consisted of
the fattest and choicest parts of eight or nine cows, a very small
quantity only being taken from each, and the rest abandoned to the
wolves. The pack animals were laden, the horses were saddled, and the
mules harnessed to the cart. Even Tete Rouge was ready at last, and
slowly moving from the ground, we resumed our journey eastward.

When we had advanced about a mile, Shaw missed a valuable hunting knife
and turned back in search of it, thinking he had left it at the camp. He
approached the place cautiously, fearful that Indians might be lurking
about, for a deserted camp is dangerous to return to. He saw no enemy,
but the scene was a wild and dreary one; the prairie was overshadowed by
dull, leaden clouds, for the day was dark and gloomy. The ashes of the
fires were still smoking by the river-side; the grass around them was
trampled down by men and horses, and strewn with all the litter of a
camp. Our departure had been a gathering signal to the birds and beasts
of prey; Shaw assured me that literally dozens of wolves were prowling
about the smoldering fires, while multitudes were roaming over the
prairie around; they all fled as he approached, some running over the
sand-beds and some over the grassy plains. As he searched about the
fires he saw the wolves seated on the distant hills waiting for his
departure. Having looked in vain for his knife, he mounted again and
left the wolves and the vultures to banquet freely upon the carrion of
the camp.

FOOTNOTES:

[126-1] "Yes, sir, yes."

[126-2] "Yes, well loaded."

[126-3] "My master" or "gentleman."

[126-4] "It is a good gun."

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

_By_ ALFRED TENNYSON

NOTE.--The Battle of Balaklava, in which the charge commemorated by
Tennyson in this poem occurred, was one of the important
engagements of the Crimean War, between Russia on the one hand and
Turkey, France and England on the other. The battle was fought on
October 25th, 1854. Through some error in issuing orders, a brigade
of six hundred light cavalry, under Lord Cardigan, was ordered to
advance agai