Trails that Cross in the Snow 125 
wonder; but his own business kept him still in hiding. 
Now, well fed and good-natured, but more curious than 
ever, he had followed the trail of these little folk to learn 
something about them. 
Mooka as she watched him was brim full of an eager¬ 
ness which swept away all fear. “ Tomah says, wolf and 
Injun hunt just alike; keep ver’ still; don’t trouble 
game ’cept when he hungry,” she whispered. “ Says 
too, Keesuolukh made us friends ’fore white man come, 
spoil um everything. Das what Malsunsis say now 
wid hees tail and eyes; only way he can talk um, little 
brother. No, no,”—for Noel’s bow was still strongly 
bent, — “ you must not shoot. Malsunsis think we 
friends.” And trusting her own brave little heart she 
stepped in front of the deadly arrow and walked straight 
to the big wolf, which moved aside timidly and sat 
down again at a distance, with the friendly expression 
of a lost collie in eyes and ears and wagging tail tip. 
Cheerfully enough Noel slacked his long bow, for the 
wonder of the woods- was strong upon him, and the 
hunting-spirit, which leads one forth to frighten and 
kill and to break the blessed peace, had vanished in 
the better sense of comradeship which steals over one 
when he watches the Wood Folk alone and friendly 
in the midst of the solitudes. As they went on their 
way again the big wolf trotted after them, keeping close 
to their trail but never crossing it, and occasionally 
