The two wolves facing me seemed to have 

 been asleep in the sun when I disturbed them. 

 I realized the danger and was alarmed, of course, 

 but my faculties were under control, were stimu- 

 lated, indeed, to unusual alertness, and I kept 

 a bold front and faced them without flinching. 

 Their expression was one of mingled surprise 

 and anger, together with the apparent determina- 

 tion to sell their lives as dearly as possible. I gave 

 them all the attention which their appearance 

 and their reputation demanded. Not once did I 

 take my eyes off them. I held them at bay with 

 my eyes. I still have a vivid picture of terribly 

 gleaming teeth, bristling backs, and bulging 

 muscles in savage readiness. 



They made no move to attack. I was afraid to 

 attack and I dared not run away. I remembered 

 that some trees I could almost reach behind me 

 had limbs that stretched out toward me, yet I 

 felt that to wheel, spring for a limb, and swing 

 up beyond their reach could not be done quickly 

 enough to escape those fierce jaws. 



Both sides were of the same mind, ready to 

 fight, but not at all eager to do so. Under these 



73 



