returned,
dragging by the leg a big, gray timber wolf. The lad's bullet had gone
home.

"And did this brute attack you?" cried Allan in alarm.

"No, no. I heard him howling a long way off, and then--then--he came
nearer, and--then--I could hear his feet pattering." Cameron drew
her close to him. "And then he saw him right in the dark. Wasn't it
wonderful?"

"In the dark?" said Allan, turning to the lad. "How did you do it?"

"Huh!" grunted the lad in a tone of indifference. "See him eyes."

Already the Indians were preparing a stretcher out of blankets and two
saplings. Here Mandy came to their help, directing their efforts so that
with the least hurt to the boy he was lifted to his stretcher.

As they were departing the father came close to Mandy, and, holding out
his hand, said in fairly good English:

"You--good to my boy. You save him--to-day. All alone maybe he die. You
give him food--drink. Sometime--perhaps soon--me pay you."

"Oh," cried Mandy, "I want no pay."

"No money--no!" cried the Indian, with scorn in his voice. "Me save
you perhaps--sometime. Save you--save you, man. Me Big Chief." He drew
himself up his full height. "Much Indian follow me." He shook hands with
Mandy again, then with her husband.

"Big Piegan Chief?" inquired her husband.

"Piegan!" said the Indian with hearty contempt. "Me no Piegan--me
Big Chief. Me--" He paused abruptly, turned on his heel and, flinging
himself on to his pony, disappeared in the shadows.

"He's jolly well pleased with himself, isn't he?" said Cameron.

"He's splendid," cried Mandy enthusiastically. "Why, he's just like
one of Cooper's Indians. He's certainly like none of the rest I've seen
about here."

"That's true enough," replied her husband. "He's no Piegan. Who is he, I
wonder? I don't remember seeing him. He thinks no end of himself, at any
rate."

"And looks as if he had a right to."

"Right you are! Well, let's away. You must be dog tired and used up."

"Never a bit," cried Mandy. "I'm fresh as a daisy. What a wonderful
ending to a wonderful day!"

They extinguished the fire carefully and made their way out to the
trail.

But the end of this wonderful day had not yet come.

CHAPTER V

THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE

The moon was riding high in the cloudless blue of the heavens, tricked
out with faintly shining stars, when they rode into the "corral" that
surrounded the ranch stable. A horse stood tethered at the gate.

"Hello, a vi