LONE WOLF 273 



stranger was one of the fugitives from that 

 disaster. 



" Come here, sir ! Come here, Big Wolf ! ' 

 said he, holding out a confident hand. 



" Wolf !" that was a familiar sound to 

 Lone Wolf's ears ! it was at least a part 

 of his name ! And the command was one he 

 well understood. Wagging his tail gravely, 

 he came at once, and thrust his great head 

 under Timmins's hand for a caress. He had 

 enjoyed his liberty, to be sure, but he was 

 beginning to find it lonely. 



Timmins understood animals. His voice, 

 as he talked to the redoubtable brute beside 

 him, was full of kindness, but at the same 

 time vibrant with authority. His touch was 

 gentle, but very firm and unhesitating. Both 

 touch and voice conveyed very clearly to 

 Lone Wolf's disciplined instinct the impres- 

 sion that this man, like Toomey, was a being 

 who had to be obeyed, whose mastery was 

 inevitable and beyond the reach of question. 

 When Timmins told him to lie down, he did 

 so at once ; and stayed there obediently 

 while Timmins gathered himself together, 

 shook the dirt out of his hair and boots, 

 recovered his cap, wiped his bleeding hands 

 with leaves, and hunted up his scattered traps 

 and rifle. At last Timmins took two bedrag- 



