Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/219

 way to his two charges, so effectively that they steadied themselves at once and closed up to him, he wheeled with a loud snort and stood to face the terrible attack. The cow promptly ranged herself beside him, while the trembling two-year-old thrust herself in between them.

The wolves, for all their hunger, were wary. They halted abruptly at the edge of the yard, impressed by the tall and lowering bulk of the bull and by the dangerous calm of his defiance. After a moment's hesitation they divided, two to the right and two to the left, and went loping stealthily around the rim of the central space, leaping the deep paths and, obviously, awaiting some sign of irresolution before dashing in. But presently one of them caught sight or scent of that heap of fresh-picked bones in the blood-stained hollow, and all together they galloped over to investigate. They knew very well that if, in the meantime, those defiant beasts in the moose-yard should take to flight, it would be a simple matter to trail them and run them down.

But nothing was further from the proud old bull's thought than any such madness. Shaking his massive head angrily with ever growing confidence he watched the wolves as they fell with zest upon the bones of his ancient foe.

To the powerful jaws of the wolves the bare bones were a feast. All but the very biggest they