Baree was a changed beast.

His one eye was fastened upon the fox breeder.

His bared, bleeding lips revealed inch-long fangs between which there came now a low and menacing snarl.

The tawny crest along his spine was like a brush; from a puzzled toleration of David his posture and look had changed into deadly hatred for Thoreau, and fear of him.

For a moment after his first warning the Frenchman's voice seemed to stick in his throat as he saw what he believed to be David's fatal disregard of his peril.