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Updated: May 24, 2025
There A'tim caught three frogs among the blossom-topped leeks; they were no more than three small oysters to a hungry man. "The water is deep and the banks steep," grunted Shag, looking dubiously at the stream. "Lower down is a ford," answered A'tim; "we will cross there." For when Shag swam in deep water the Dog-Wolf found it difficult to keep on his back.
With a weary sigh A'tim turned his eyes from the deceitful rock, and watched furtively for the chance of even a small Kill as they journeyed. Day by day Shag was eating of the richer grass and becoming of a great corpulency. Envious thoughts commenced to creep into the mind of A'tim.
Talking almost incessantly to distract the other's attention, A'tim led the way straight for his muskeg trap. "There is some lovely blue-joint grass on the other side of this beautiful little plain," he said as they came to the tamarack border of the swamp. "Is it safe crossing?" asked Shag. "Quite safe," answered the Dog-Wolf; "there is not a mud spot to be seen you will scarce wet a shin.
"I will search up, and do you seek down," said A'tim. "Not so," replied the Wolf; "we will stay here together while my Pups pick up the trail, be it up or down." Very close to A'tim the huge Wolf sat while his two Sons searched the opposite bank for the coming out of Shag. Soon a "Hi, yi he, he, he-voh-ooh!" came floating dismally up the tortuous stretch of winding stream.
With a deft twist Shag had the Dog-Wolf pinned to the earth between the worn old horns. "Now, traitor," he grunted. "Spare me," pleaded A'tim; "I, who am not of your kind, slept by your side, and guided you to this land where you have a Herd. I was forced to this by the Wolves they threatened to eat me. Spare me, Great Bull; I came to warn you, but the Wolves followed fast." Shag hesitated.
Suddenly the trail kinked sharply to the right, and the Dog-Wolf, swift-rushing, overshot it. "E-u-h! at fault," he muttered. "Some trick of the fool Cow's." Back and forth, back and forth like Setters the four Killers scurried. "H-o-o-oh! here away!" cried A'tim, picking it up; and on again galloped the Gray Hunters.
"They will fight," answered the Wolf. "No charge will break a Wolf Pack, and it will be that way with these, I think." "The Buffalo are different," lied A'tim. He knew better, but it was his only hope. Well he knew that if there were no attack his New Comrades would surely eat him.
There was no second shot; only the "thudety-thud" of the Pony's hoofs. The pursuer was armed with a muzzle-loading trade musket. The shot startled Shag. Now he could see them rushing his way; soon they would be upon him. With a bellow of frightened rage at the stupidity of A'tim, he stuck his scraggy tail out with its tip curled over his back, and broke into a solemn gallop.
As he crawled up the river bank close to Belly Buttes and looked across the plain, he could see the pink flush of eventide, like a fairy veil, draping the cold blue mountains the Rockies. "Good-night, warm Brother," he said, blinking at the setting sun; "I wonder if you are going to sleep with an empty stomach, as must A'tim."
A'tim the Outcast was half Wolf, half Huskie Dog. That meant ferocity and bloodthirst on the one side, and knowledge of Man's ways on the other. Also, that he was an Outcast; for neither side of the house of his ancestry would have aught of him.
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