She took one breath and answered him. "It holds five, and I shot twice. I haven't any others."
"And I don't suppose it ever occurred to you to carry extra ones in your pocket?"
"Father is always telling me to--and several times I have. But I'd shoot them away at target practice and forget to take any more. There was never any danger--except that night with a cougar. I did intend to--but what does it matter now?"
"We're a couple of wise ones, going after that wolf with only three shots to our name. Of course by himself he's harmless--but he's likely enough to lead us straight toward the pack. And Snowbird--I didn't like his looks. He's too gaunt, and he's too hungry--and I haven't a bit of doubt he waited in that brush for us to come, intending to attack us--and lost his nerve the last thing. That shows he's desperate. I don't like him, and I wouldn't like his pack. And a whole pack might not lose _its_ nerve."
"Yes, I do, and not come out any more without a whole pocket of shells. I'm going to carry my rifle, too, just as Lennox has always advised. He's only got a flesh-wound. You saw what you did with two cartridges--got in one flesh-wound. Three of 'em against a pack wouldn't be a great deal of aid. I don't mean to say you can't shoot, but a jumping, lively wolf is worse than a bird in the air. We've gone over three miles; and he'd lead us ten miles farther--even if he didn't go to the pack. Let's go back."
"If you say so. But I don't think there's the least bit of danger. We can always climb a tree."
"And have 'em make a beautiful circle under it! They've got more patience than we have--and we'd have to come down sometime. Your father can't come to our help, you know. It's the sign of the tenderfoot not to think there's any danger--and I'm not going to think that way any more."
They turned back and mushed in silence a long time.
"I suppose you'll think I'm a coward," Dan asked her humbly.
"Only prudent, Dan," she answered, smiling. Whether she meant it, he did not know. "I'm just beginning to understand that you--living here only a few months--really know and understand all this better than I do." She stretched her arms wide to the wilderness. "I guess it's your instincts."