would stand in the old wolf's path, disputing 

 with lowered front the right of way. Here 

 the right of way meant a good deal, for in 

 many places on the high plains the scrub 

 spruces grow so thickly that a man can easily 

 walk over the tops cf them on his snow-shoes, 

 and the only possible passage in summer-time 

 is by means of the numerous paths worn 

 through the scrub by the passing of animals 

 for untold ages. So one or the other of 

 the two splendid brutes that now approached 

 each other in the narrow way must turn aside 

 or be beaten down underfoot. 



Quietly, steadily, the old wolf would come 

 on till almost within springing distance, when 

 A^ he would stop and lift his great head, wrink- 

 y^;\ *| ling his chops to show the long white fangs, 

 ^>/7 and rumbling a warning deep in his mas- 

 |v - sive chest. Then the caribou would lose his 

 nerve; he would stamp and fidget and blus- 

 ter, and at last begin to circle nervously, 

 crashing his way into the scrub as if for 

 a chance to take his enemy in the flank. 

 Whereupon the old wolf would trot quietly 

 along the path, paying no more heed to the 



