“I wonder what’s keepin’ Billy,” his mother said.
They grew uneasy, at last; and presently they set out to search for the lad. Neither child nor seal did they ever see again; but they came upon the shocking evidences of what had occurred.
And they blamed Tog of Buccaneer Cove.
For a month or more Tog was lost to sight; but an epidemic had so reduced the number of serviceable dogs that he was often in Jim Grimm’s mind. Jim very heartily declared that Tog should have a berth with the team if starvation drove him back; not that he loved Tog, said he, but that he needed him. But Tog seemed to be doing well enough in the wilderness. He did not soon return. Once they saw him. It was when Jim and Jimmie were bound 27 home from Laughing Cove. Of a sudden Jim halted the team.
“Do you see that, Jimmie, b’y?” he asked, pointing with his whip to the white crest of a near-by hill.
“Dogs!” Jimmie ejaculated.
“Take another squint,” said Jim.
“Dogs,” Jimmie repeated.
“Wolves,” drawled Jim. “An’ do you see the beast with the black eye?”