"They come here at night: elk, deer, buffalo, wolves, and all the others, big and little, to get the salt.

They drink the water and they lick up the salt too from the ground." A fierce desire laid hold of the boy at these words.

He had a small rifle of his own, which however he was not permitted to carry often.

But he wanted to take it and lie beside the pool at night when the game came down to drink.

The dark would have no terrors for him, nor would he need companionship.