A Strange Ride 161 



On the way out, he had often gone aside 

 from his course for half a day, but now 

 there were no digressions of this nature. 

 Something, perhaps it was the wind, seemed 

 to be whispering " Home, Home, Home," 

 and the great Missouri also took up the re- 

 frain and roared it at all her shallows. 



Three weeks brought the broad La Platte 

 River again in sight. This was the begin- 

 ning of the end. Four or five days more 

 would finish the long journey. 



These last few days seemed like weeks, 

 the home hunger was now so great. Ben- 

 nie rode late into the evening each day and 

 broke camp before daylight. 



The fourth day at about noon he thought 

 he saw a wolf upon a distant rise in the 

 prairie. The figure was certainly that of a 

 wolf. Then upon the clear air, which car- 

 ries sound to a great distance, he heard a 

 high-keyed bark, and the wolf came rush- 

 ing toward him like a mad creature. For 



