“I’ll lend him sometimes,” replied John.
“Always; when you don’t want him yourself, John.”
“Yes, always,” replied John, who was going out of the door.
“Where are you going, dear,” said Mrs Campbell.
“Going to skin the wolf,” replied John, walking away.
“Well, he’ll be a regular keen hunter,” observed Martin. “I dare say old Bone has taught him to flay an animal. However I’ll go and help him, for it’s a real good skin.” So saying, Martin followed John.
“Martin ought to have known better than to leave the offal where he did,” observed Captain Sinclair.
“We must not be too hard, Captain Sinclair,” said Alfred. “Martin has a contempt for wolves, and that wolf would not have stood his ground had it been a man instead of two young women who were in face of him. Wolves are very cunning, and I know will attack a woman or child when they will fly from a man. Besides, it is very unusual for a wolf to remain till daylight, even when there is offal to tempt him. It was the offal, the animal’s extreme hunger, and the attack of the dog—a combination of circumstances—which produced the event. I do not see that Martin can be blamed, as one cannot foresee everything.”
“Perhaps not,” replied Captain Sinclair, “and ‘all’s well that ends well.’”
“Are there any other animals to fear?” inquired Mrs Campbell.