Page:The Way of the Wild (1923).pdf/271

 to another birch. But all birches were alike to the pack and the great deer would no sooner begin nibbling at the tender twigs than he was admonished by Shep's sharp barking to move on. After about three hours Bed Buck decided that he would lie down for a spell in a thick clump of spruce. He was no sooner ensconced in a comfortable bed of dead leaves than the pack appeared. Three heads were thrust out from as many hiding-places in the thicket and three pairs of sinister eyes glared through the semi-gloom at him. As though this was not enough Shep set up his high-keyed barking and old Bruiser a deep baying. Then a fit of rage came over Red Buck. He sprang to his feet and with an angry snort charged at them.

But he could not charge in three directions at once, so he selected old Bruiser upon whom to vent his rage. But the dog ran into some thick cover and soon eluded him. Just as Red Buck lost sight of the big dog he felt a sharp twinge in his hind leg just below the gambrel joint. This was getting serious. He wheeled