ioo The King of the Thundering Herd 



and fear. But soon they had the camp-fire 

 blazing brightly and Bennie knew that as 

 long as they kept it going, the wolves would 

 not come very close to them. 



When Shep had finished his gopher, 

 and the boy his buffalo meat, both took a 

 drink from the river, and then they cuddled 

 down by the camp-fire for the night. 



Bennie pillowed his head upon the soft 

 coat of Shep and held one hand in his collar. 

 The other grasped the stock of his rifle. 

 Thus doubly guarded, the boy fell asleep. 



The next thing that Bennie remembered 

 was a sensation that something was licking 

 his face. His first confused thought was 

 that it might be a bear. Had a huge bear 

 crept upon him while he slept and was he 

 now in the act of washing his dirty face, 

 preparatory to eating him ? 



Instinctively his hand tightened upon 

 the grip of the rifle, and he slowly opened 

 his eyes, only to look into the grinning face 



