Somewhere in the big corral there was a hole where the smaller dogs could escape, but Wade had been unable to find it.

For that matter the corral was full of holes, not any of which, however, it appeared to Wade, would permit anything except a squirrel to pass in and out.
One day when the hunter, very much exasperated, was prowling around and around inside the corral, searching for this mysterious vent, a rather small dog, with short gray and brown woolly hair, and shaggy brows half hiding big, bright eyes, came up wagging his stump of a tail.
"Well, what do you know about it ?" demanded Wade.

Of course he had noticed this particular dog, but to no purpose.

On this occasion the dog repeated so unmistakably former overtures of friendship that Wade gave him close scrutiny.

He was neither young nor comely nor thoroughbred, but there was something in his intelligent eyes that struck the hunter significantly.