His
gun lay close at hand, but in his haste he forgot to pick it up. Once in
the tree he sat down on a limb, a perfect picture of misery.
Seeing the man retreat the wolves at once became bolder, and keeping a
safe distance from the fire, they drew up in a circle around the tree
upon which Jasper Grinder rested, and from which hung the bear meal. At
one point under the tree there was a spot covered with bear's blood, and
this blood several of the wolves licked up in a manner to make the
former teacher's own blood run cold.
"If they get at me they'll chew me up, I know they will," he moaned.
"Oh, why did I ever come out in this savage waste!"
Sitting in a circle, the wolves lifted their heads and howled dismally.
Two came to the tree and scratched the bark, as if to attempt climbing.
"Go away! Go away!" shrieked Jasper Grinder. "Scat! Go away!"
The wolves left the tree-trunk, but did not go away. Instead one after
another began to leap up, trying to reach the meat which hung so
temptingly above them. One or two prowled among the stores, tearing
this and that, and picking up the scraps of the morning meal.
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