The Hunger Cry

           Thedaybeganauspiciously. Theyhadlostnodogsduringthenight,andtheyswungoutuponthetrailandintothesilence,thedarkness,andthecoldwithspiritsthatwerefairlylight. Billseemedtohaveforgottenhisforebodingsofthepreviousnight, andevenwaxedfacetiouswiththedogswhen,atmidday,theyoverturnedthesledonabadpieceoftrail. 

           Itwasanawkwardmix-up. Thesledwasupsidedownandjammedbetweenatree-trunkandahugerock, andtheywereforcedtounharnessthedogsinordertostraightenoutthetangle. Thetwomenwerebentoverthesledandtryingtorightit,whenHenryobservedOneEarsidlingaway. 

           "Here,you,OneEar!"hecried,straighteningupandturningaroundonthedog. 

           ButOneEarbrokeintoarunacrossthesnow,histracestrailingbehindhim. Andthere,outinthesnowoftheirbacktrack,wastheshe-wolfwaitingforhim. Ashenearedher,hebecamesuddenlycautious. Hesloweddowntoanalertandmincingwalkandthenstopped. Heregardedhercarefullyanddubiously,yetdesirefully. Sheseemedtosmileathim,showingherteethinaningratiatingratherthanamenacingway. Shemovedtowardhimafewsteps,playfully,andthenhalted. OneEardrewneartoher,stillalertandcautious,histailandearsintheair,hisheadheldhigh. 

           Hetriedtosniffnoseswithher,butsheretreatedplayfullyandcoyly. Everyadvanceonhispartwasaccompaniedbyacorrespondingretreatonherpart. Stepbystepshewasluringhimawayfromthesecurityofhishumancompanionship. Once,asthoughawarninghadinvaguewaysflittedthroughhisintelligence, heturnedhisheadandlookedbackattheoverturnedsled, athisteam-mates,andatthetwomenwhowerecallingtohim.