ost his own life
there.

Still the Indian made no comment, nor mentioned the real reason for
which they had come to the lick. He wet his finger and held it up so as
to get the direction of the wind. Then circling the lick and getting
between it and the creek-bank, he flung down the bundle of torches and
motioned Enoch back into the deeper shadow. With his own flint and
steel, and using a bit of tinder from the leather pouch he carried, he
lit one of the resinous torches. This he stood upright some little
distance away, yet not too near the piece of ground where the creatures
of the forest were accustomed to obtain their salt. Then, crouching
beside his white friend, the Indian remained motionless and speechless
for the next three hours. Once Enoch crept out and renewed the torch
which had burned low; then he returned to Crow Wing's side.

All the sounds of the forest at night are not to be distinguished with
ease. Even Enoch, bred in the wilderness and possessing much knowledge
of wood-ranging, heard only the coarser sounds. Therefore he lay half
dreaming for some moments after the Indian raised his head and lent an
attentive ear to some noise which came from far away. The night-owl's
hoot was intermittent; a lone wolf howled mournfully on the hillside; in
the swamp a catamount screamed as it pounced upon its prey. But it was
none of these sounds which had attracted the Indian's attention. Enoch
suddenly roused to see Crow Wing softly reach for his gun and bring the
weapon slowly to his shoulder.

The white youth already had his own weapon in hand. He tried to pierce
the darkness beyond the flickering torch with his eyes, seeing naught at
first but shapeless shadows. At length, however, the sound that had
warned Crow Wing of the approach of their game, was audible to Enoch's
much less acute ear. It was that of a steady grinding of a ruminant
animal feeding. The creature was coming slowly nearer and soon the
hunters could plainly hear it cropping the leaves and twigs along the
path; then, having gained a choice mouthful, the grinding of the molars
recommenced.

Suddenly the thick brush across the glade parted and the animal halted
with a surprised snuff--one might almost say gasp of astonishment. The
crash in the bushes betrayed that the creature had flung itself half
around in its contemplated flight; then it hesitated; the flaming torch
spurred its curiosity and, there being no movement in the glade, except
of the