Never had he been so fond of this body of his as now when his tenure of it was so precarious.
All night, with burning brands, he fought off the hungry pack.

When he dozed despite himself, the whimpering and snarling of the dogs aroused him.

Morning came, but for the first time the light of day failed to scatter the wolves.

The man waited in vain for them to go.

They remained in a circle about him and his fire, displaying an arrogance of possession that shook his courage born of the morning light.
He made one desperate attempt to pull out on the trail.