LONE WOLF 267 



it was plainly no dog's jaws that had done 

 such mangling. What dog, indeed, could 

 have mastered Anderson's " Dan " ? 



" It's a bear, gone mad on mutton," pro- 

 nounced certain of the wise ones, idling at 

 the cross-roads store. " Ye see as how he 

 hain't et the dawg, noways, but jest bit him, 

 to teach him not to go interferin' as regards 

 sheep." 



" Ye're all off," contradicted Timmins, with 

 authority. " A bear'ld hev' tore him an* 

 batted him an' mauled him more'n he'd 

 hev' bit him. A bear thinks more o' usin' 

 his forepaws than what he does his jaws, 

 ef he gits into any kind of an onpleasantness. 

 No, boys, our unknown friend up yonder's 

 a wolf, take my word for it." 



Joe Anderson snorted, and spat accurately 

 out through the door. 



" A wolf / " he sneered. " Go chase yerself, 

 Brace Timmins. I'd like to see any wolf as 

 could 'a done up my Dan that way ! " 



" Well, keep yer hair on, Joe," retorted 

 Timmins easily. " I'm a-goin' after him, an' 

 I'll show him to you in a day or two, as like 

 as not ! " 



" I reckon, Joe," interposed the store- 

 keeper, leaning forward across the counter, 

 " as how there be other breeds of wolf besides 



