68 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



all directions from the ridge-tops near me, except toward 

 the meadows. It is probably a feeding-place in spring 

 or late fall. 



It had showered at intervals during the day and when 

 I reached camp it was raining hard. While I was cook- 

 ing supper, my eyes were attracted by an unfamiliar 

 object appearing like a small stump in the centre of a 

 little knoll about a hundred and fifty yards off across the 

 brook. Watching it carefully I saw a movement and 

 knew that it was a wolf, in an attitude almost perfect for 

 self-protection. Its hind quarters were turned directly 

 toward me. Its head, pointing in my direction, was held 

 close to the body in a straight line in such manner that 

 the only parts of the body visible, without close scru- 

 tiny, were the narrow hind quarters, the color of which 

 blended perfectly with the grass. My rifle was against 

 a tree. Quickly creeping to it I aimed through the dusk 

 and fired. The wolf jumped and ran zigzagging down 

 stream, but did not present another shot and was soon 

 lost to sight in the timber. As it ran one hind leg was 

 swinging, evidently broken by the bullet. It was too dark 

 to follow then, but I determined to try for it in the morning. 



July 31. The sunset that night and the tinting of the 

 clouds were particularly beautiful, as the faint light 

 glowed through the spruces while heavy clouds hung on 

 the mountain sides, and to the east all was dark. Few 

 mosquitoes were about, the rains of the last few days 

 together with the colder nights having probably de- 

 stroyed them. The rain kept pouring down, beating 

 through the thin mosquito tent all night, and continued 



