The Red Wolves

           NIGHTcame,buttheorbofnightwasinvisibletotheinhabitantsoftheearth,forshewasjustinherfirstquarter.Thedimlightofthestarswasallthatilluminedtheplain.ThewatersoftheGuaminiransilently,likeasheetofoiloverasurfaceofmarble.Birds,quadrupeds,andreptileswererestingmotionlessafterthefatiguesoftheday,andthesilenceofthedesertbroodedoverthefar-spreadingPampas.

           Glenarvan,Robert,andThalcave,hadfollowedthecommonexample,andlayinprofoundslumberontheirsoftcouchoflucerne.Theworn-outhorseshadstretchedthemselvesfulllengthontheground,exceptThaouka,whosleptstanding,truetohishighblood,proudinreposeasinaction,andreadytostartathismaster’scall.Absolutesilencereignedwithintheinclosure,overwhichthedyingembersofthefireshedafitfullight.

           However,theIndian’ssleepdidnotlastlong;foraboutteno’clockhewoke,satup,andturnedhiseartowardtheplain,listeningintently,withhalf-closedeyes.Anuneasylookbegantodepictitselfonhisusuallyimpassiveface.HadhecaughtscentofsomepartyofIndianmarauders,orofjaguars,watertigers,andotherterribleanimalsthathaunttheneighborhoodofrivers?Apparentlyitwasthelatter,forhethrewarapidglanceonthecombustiblematerialsheapedupintheinclosure,andtheexpressionofanxietyonhiscountenanceseemedtodeepen.Thiswasnotsurprising,asthewholepileofALFAFARESwouldsoonburnoutandcouldonlywardofftheattacksofwildbeastsforabriefinterval.