LONE WOLF 271 



not actively hostile. Stillness, absolute im- 

 mobility, was the trumpcard to be always 

 played, in the wilderness, when in doubt. 

 So Timmins kept quite still, looking inquir- 

 ingly at Lone Wolf. And Lone Wolf looked 

 inquiringly at him. 



For several minutes this waiting game 

 went on. Then, with easy nonchalance, 

 Lone Wolf lifted one huge hind paw and 

 vigorously scratched his ear. This very 

 simple action was a profound relief to Timmins. 



" Sartain," he thought, " the crittur must 

 be in an easy mood, or he'd never think to 

 scratch his ear like that. Or mebbe he thinks 

 I'm so well buried I kin wait, like an old 

 bone ! " 



Just then Lone Wolf got up, stretched 

 himself, yawned prodigiously, came a couple 

 of steps nearer, and sat down again, with 

 his head cocked to one side, and a polite air 

 of asking, " Do I intrude ? >J 



" Sartain sure, I'll never ketch him in a 

 better humour ! " thought Timmins. " I'll 

 try the human voice on him." 



" Git to H out of that ! " he commanded, 



in a sharp voice. 



Lone Wolf cocked his head to the other 

 side interrogatively. He had been spoken 

 to, by Toomey, in that voice of authority, 



