he had seen prowling
about the ruined wagon train. The brute called up painful
memories, and, seizing his rifle, he fired at a spot midway
between the red eyes. The wolf uttered a howl, leaped high in
the air, and fell dead, lying without motion, stretched on his
side.

"I didn't like the way he looked at us," explained Dick.

A horrible growling and snapping came from the bushes presently.

"What's that?" asked Albert.

"It's only Mr. Timber Wolf's brethren eating up Mr. Timber Wolf,
now that he is no longer of any use to himself."

Albert shuddered, too.

It was nightfall when they took away the last of the buffalo for
which they cared, and as they departed they heard in the twilight
the patter of light feet.

"It's the timber wolves rushing for what we've left," said Dick.
"Those are big and fierce brutes, and you and I, Al, must never
go out without a rifle or a revolver. You can't tell what
they'll try, especially in the winter."

The entire roof of the cabin was covered the next day with the
buffalo robe and the drying meat, and birds of prey began to
hover above it. Albert constituted himself watchman, and, armed
with a long stick, took his place on the roof, where he spent the
day.

Dick shouldered one of the shotguns and went down to the lake.
There he shot several fine teal, and in one of the grassy glades
near it he roused up prairie hen. Being a fine shot, he secured
four of these, and returned to the cabin with his acceptable
spoil.

They had now such a great supply of stores and equipment that
their place was crowded and they scarcely had room for sleeping
on the floor.

"What we need," said Dick, "is an annex, a place that can be used
for a storehouse only, and this valley, which has been so kind to
us, ought to continue being kind and furnish it."

The valley did furnish the annex, and it was Albert who found
it. He discovered a little further up the cleft an enormous oak,
old and decayed. The tree was at lease seven feet through, and
the hollow itself was fully five feet in diameter, with a height
of perhaps fourteen feet. It was very rough inside with sharp
projections in every direction which had kept any large animal
from making his den there, but Albert knew at once that the
needed place had been found. Full of enthusiasm he ran for Dick,
who came instantly to see.

"Fine," said Dick approvingly. "We'll call it the 'Annex,' sure
enough, and we'll get to work right away