Only Fortner was able to do this.

He could see the great greenish-yellow eyes burn in the pitchy-depths and steadily draw nearer him.

They entered the laurel thicket, and the beast growled as he felt the nearness of his prey.
"Wolf must be gitten close ter him," said one of the men.
Fortner laid his rifle across the log, and drew from his belt a long keen knife.

He stirred slightly in doing this, and in turning to confront the dog.

The hound sprang forward with a growl that was abruptly ended, for Fortner's left hand shot out like an arrow, and caught the loose folds of skin on the brute's neck, and the next instant his right, armed with the knife, descended and laid the animal's shoulder and neck open with a deep cut.