on 



conditions our nearness was embarrassing, and 

 we faced each other for what seemed, to me at 

 least, a long time. My mind working like light- 

 ning, I thought of several possible ways of escap- 

 ing. I considered each at length, found it faulty, 

 and dismissed it. Meanwhile, not a sound had 

 been made. I had not moved, but something 

 had to be done. Slowly I worked the small fold- 

 ing axe from its sheath, and with the slowest 

 of movements placed it in my right coat-pocket 

 with the handle up, ready for instant use. I did 

 this with studied deliberation, lest a sudden 

 movement should release the springs that held 

 the wolves back. I kept on staring. Statues, al- 

 most, we must have appeared to the " camp-bird " 

 whose call from a near-by limb told me we were 

 observed, and whose nearness gave me courage. 

 Then, looking the nearer of the two wolves 

 squarely in the eye, I said to him, " Well, why 

 don't you move ? " as though we were playing 

 checkers instead of the game of life. He made no 

 reply, but the spell was broken. I believe that 

 both sides had been bluffing. In attempting to use 

 my kodak while continuing the bluff, I brought 



74 



