"Is that why he doesn't leave even the butcher-knife in this shack?
Was he afraid you might shoot him in his sleep if he left the temptation in your way ?" A commotion among the wolves drew him to the window.

Two of the beasts were fighting.

While his back was turned Celie entered her room and returned a moment or two later with a handful of loose bits of paper.
The pack held Philip's attention.

He wondered what chance he would have in an encounter with the beasts which Bram had left behind as a guard.
Even if he killed Bram or made him a prisoner he would still have that horde of murderous brutes to deal with.

If he could in some way induce the wolf-man to bring his rifle into the cabin the matter would be easy.