LONE WOLF 265 



designed for his retreat, went no further. 

 He felt that he had come into his own domain. 



CHAPTER II 



THE settlers around the skirts of Lost Moun- 

 tain were puzzled and indignant. For six 

 weeks their indignation had been growing, 

 and the mystery seemed no nearer a solu- 

 tion. Something was slaughtering their sheep 

 something that knew its business and 

 slaughtered with dreadful efficiency. Several 

 honest dogs fell under suspicion not be- 

 cause there was anything whatever against 

 their reputations, but simply because they 

 had the misfortune to be big enough and 

 strong enough to kill a sheep if they wanted 

 to and the brooding backwoods mind, when 

 troubled, will go far on the flimsiest evidence. 

 Of all the wrathful settlers, the most furi- 

 ous was Brace Timmins. Not only had he 

 lost in those six weeks, six sheep, but now his 

 dog, a splendid animal, half deer-hound and 

 half collie, had been shot on suspicion by a 

 neighbour on no better grounds, apparently, 

 than his long legs and long, killing jaws. 

 Still the slaughtering of the flocks went on, 



