The animal was more cowardly than the leader that had been killed. He did not advance boldly, but slunk along, pressing to the side of the tunnel as though trying to evade the dazzling gleam of light that shone in his eyes. Now and then he snarled viciously, showing his teeth.
"Are any of the wolves following him?" asked Joe, from the darkness.
"I can't see any. This brute seems to be alone."
"How about taking a shot at him?"
"What's the use? Even if I did kill him, we'd only run into the rest of them when we went out into the cave again. I'm not going to use this gun again unless I absolutely have to."
The brothers continued their weird journey. The tunnel was damp and chilly. The floor was rocky and uneven, and Frank was in constant dread lest he trip and fall. It would be all up with them then. The wolf would not lose a second in taking advantage of such an opportunity. So, stepping backward, they retreated farther and farther down the passage, watching the grey form that constantly followed, never gaining on them, but never falling back.
"I wonder how long this tunnel is?" Frank muttered.
"Can't last forever," said Joe, with an attempt at cheerfulness. "I think I feel a draft of cold air at my back."
"It doesn't lead outside, that's certain. If it did it would be sloping upward."
There was a low snarl from the wolf. It advanced farther into the circle of light. The brute had evidently decided that the light was not particularly dangerous, and was growing bolder.