ON THE PRAIRIE 219 



snow peaks glinting crimson in the li^ 

 the set sun. Again we waited quietly in the 

 ing dusk until the pine trees in our front 

 icd into one dark, frowning mass. We 

 saw nothing; but the wild creatures of the 

 forest had begun to stir abroad. The owls 

 hooted dismally from the tops of the tall 

 trees, and two or three times a harsh wail- 

 ing cry, probably the voice of some lynx or 

 wolverine, arose from the depths of the 

 woods. At last, as we were rising to leave, 

 we heard the sound of the breaking of a 

 dead stick, from the spot where we knew the 

 carcass lay. It was a sharp, sudden noise, 

 perfectly distinct from the natural creaking 

 and snapping of the branches; just such a 

 sound as would be made by the tread of some 

 heavy creature. " Old Ephraim " had come 

 back to the carcass. A minute afterward, 

 listening with strained ears, we heard him 

 brush by some dry twigs. It was entirely 

 too dark to go in after him ; but we made up 

 our minds that on the morrow he should be 

 ours. 



