1 24 The King of the Thundering Herd 



just started up the creek to look at some 

 beaver-traps which he had set that fall, and 

 met Little Bighead running frantically for 

 the stable. The yearling, he knew, would 

 not be running like that without cause, so 

 Bennie hurried in the opposite direction. 

 He came upon Shep and the struggling 

 wolf in the nick of time, for the wolf had 

 just freed himself and was in the act of 

 springing upon the dog, who stood at bay 

 and ready to fight to the death, although 

 he would have been overpowered and killed 

 in a few minutes. 



Bennie raised his rifle for a snap-shot, 

 and sent a bullet whistling over the wolfs 

 head. He did not dare fire low and di- 

 rectly at him for fear of hitting the dog. 

 The gray wolf turned with a snarl, but see- 

 ing the boy with the rifle and smelling gun- 

 powder, he disappeared in the bushes with 

 a single bound, leaving Shep and Bennie in 

 full possession of the field. 



