"What time is it?"
"Five o'clock," Bob told him after a glance at the luminous dial of his wrist watch.
"Reckon the fire's about out, isn't it?"
"Must be. I'll go out and build it up."
"Think its safe?" Jack asked as another howl reached their ears.
"Sure. They're not that near and I'll take my gun."
"But—"
But Bob was already out of his bag and creeping from the tepee and what Jack said was lost in the fury of the storm. As soon as he was on his feet he saw that only a small bed of coals remained of the fire.
"And the snow would have put them out if it wasn't for the protection of that cliff," he thought as he hurried to where they had piled the supply of wood. "I'll have to get in some more wood tomorrow whatever happens," he muttered as he noted the small amount left.
The fire was so low that it took him some little time to get it to blazing again, but he finally accomplished it with the aid of some light stuff and had turned to get more when an angry snarl caused him to glance over the fire. There, about thirty feet from where he stood, but plainly visible in the light of the fire, was the largest wolf he had ever seen. It was evident that the great beast feared the blaze and dared not approach nearer, but it was also clear that it was loath to retreat. So it stood there baring its cruel fangs and uttering snarl after snarl.