With a wild whoop, both boys slid down to the ground. At first they did not dare to go very near the bear. Fisher picked up a stone and threw it at her, but she did not move. Then how the boys danced and shouted!
But Bolo soon thought of something else.
“The wolves will come,” he said.
“We must hurry back to the caves,” said Fisher.
“Then we will not have any bear meat,” returned Bolo.
“We must save the meat if we can,” said Fisher. “But we are only two boys, and the wolves are many and fierce.”
“Gather some dry wood quickly,” said Bolo. “I will run back and bring a torch.”
It did not take long for the boys to make a circle of blazing sticks around the carcass of the bear. But almost before it was done they could hear the terrible howl of the hungry wolves, and they knew the pack was closing in about them. Fisher was frightened and wished they had left the meat for the wolves. But Bolo only laughed loudly, and threw stones through the wall of fire at the wolves, and called tauntingly to them. He knew they were safe so long as the fire burned.
Pretty soon it grew dark, and still the hungry wolves howled around the wall of fire, pacing restlessly up and down and watching for a place to break through it. The boys were getting tired. Besides, all the dry wood they had been able to gather would soon be gone, and then what would they do? They could save themselves by climbing into the trees, but then they would have to give up their bear, and such a supply of meat was a prize. It meant a feast of many days for the whole Clan.
“If I had more arrows I would shoot the wolves, too,” said Bolo; “then we could go wherever we liked. When we get back to the cave I will ask my father to teach me how to make them for myself.”