“Yes, yes,” cried the girl, “go on, go on!” In her heated imagination she saw it all: the majestic buck deer, the three fierce, gaunt wolves, and the fearless boy.
David smiled again, pleased at the girl’s excitement. “Just as the buck came up with the wolf at his heels they sprang from their ambush and pulled him down.”
“And then—” prompted the girl, looking at him with her big, dark eyes.
“Well, then I fired two bullets at them. I think I wounded one. They stood and snarled.”
The girl shuddered and pressed his hand tighter.
“Then I fired again. This time I killed a big grey fellow, the one which had run after the deer, and the others made off.”
The girl drew a long, sharp breath, then, hugging him tightly around the neck, kissed him.
David laughed and fought for breath. “Don’t you think the wolves were very cunning?” he asked. “Have you ever heard anything like that before?”
“They were very, very cunning,” declared the girl. “It was wonderful, I have never heard the like.” Then, stroking his hair caressingly, she added very seriously: “It was very brave of you to tackle three large wolves, David, but it was dangerous, and I wish you would not go so far from the Fort alone.”
The boy smiled derisively at these girlish fears.