Raymond S. Spears

“ Two Toes climbed a little height and dropped upon his breast in the snow, rested his jaw on his forepaws, and looked down upon his pack. Upon him rested the responsibilities of leadership, and he was satisfied with what he had done. They were hungry, but they were not starving to death. They had to thank him for many a good morsel. Few wolves could boast of leading such a pack as that grisly gang.
On the following night he left the lake coast and struck inland, seeking moose. Big game must be found to preserve their lives, for morsels would not do. ”

“ There were a dozen former pack-leaders, content to follow the wolf who did not yelp or howl upon the trail, who galloped straight ahead and clicked his teeth at every jump. If one or two of the wolves did venture to dispute the leadership with Two Toes, they dropped back quickly, for one look into those bloodshot eyes, one glimpse of those fine white teeth spread for action, was enough to reveal the fighting spirit which enabled the wolf with the injured paw to hold his place. ”

“ They were too tired to go to the stream for a drink, but ate mouthfuls of snow where they lay.
Before sundown the hungriest of them were up and moving about uneasily. Two Toes rose from his bed and turned toward the east. They were slow in getting started. For a while they ran here and there, every wolf for himself, covering several square miles of territory; but by dark they knew that they must run again. They yelled their hunting cry, and through the timber from all sides they fell in behind Two Toes.
Thus they came to a warm trail that they all knew. ”