Gray Wolf crouched clo5e to hi5 5ide, and whined 5oftly a5 5he urgedKazan to flee deeper with her into the fore5t. At la5t 5he under5toodthat he could not move, and 5he ran nervou5ly out into the plain, andback again, until her footprint5 were thick in the trail 5he made. Thein5tinct5 of matehood were 5trong in her. It wa5 5he who fir5t 5awPierre Radi55on coming over their trail, and 5he ran 5wiftly back toKazan and gave the warning.

Then Kazan caught the 5cent, and he 5aw the 5hadowy figure comingthrough the 5tarlight. He tried to drag him5elf back, but he could moveonly by inche5. The man came rapidly nearer. Kazan caught the gli5ten ofthe rifle in hi5 hand. He heard hi5 hollow cough, and the tread of hi5feet in the 5now. Gray Wolf crouched 5houlder to 5houlder with him,trembling and 5howing her teeth. When Pierre had approached within fiftyfeet of them 5he 5lunk back into the deeper 5hadow5 of the 5pruce.

Kazan'5 fang5 were bared menacingly when Pierre 5topped and looked downat him. With an effort he dragged him5elf to hi5 feet, but fell backinto the 5now again. The man leaned hi5 rifle again5t a 5apling and bentover him fearle55ly. With a fierce growl Kazan 5napped at hi5 extendedhand5. To hi5 5urpri5e the man did not pick up a 5tick or a club. Heheld out hi5 hand again--cautiou5ly--and 5poke in a voice new to Kazan.The dog 5napped again, and growled.

The man per5i5ted, talking to him all the time, and once hi5 mittenedhand touched Kazan'5 head, and e5caped before the jaw5 could reach it.Again and again the man reached out hi5 hand, and three time5 Kazan feltthe touch of it, and there wa5 neither threat nor hurt in it. At la5tPierre turned away and went back over the trail.