Bob had stood his rifle against a tree only three or four feet from where he was and in another instant it was in his hand and he was pressing the trigger. Had it been daylight it would have been an easy shot but the flickering fire must have disturbed his aim for the wolf, with an angry snarl, either of rage or pain, he was not sure which, turned and bounded off into the forest.
"Missed him," Bob groaned in disgust.
"Did you get him?"
He barely caught the words.
"No, I missed him, but he's gone."
"Hurry up, he may be back."
"There's no danger. I'll be in in a minute."
But it was some time before he had the fire going to his satisfaction and he would not leave it before. He could hear, now and then, the snarl or howl of the beasts and knew that there must be quite a number of them around but, although he kept close watch, he saw no more and, finally, he crept back into the tepee.
"Many of them?" Jack asked anxiously.
"There's a few, but the fire'll keep them off."