But at the same time there was a suspicious crackling movement beside him, and his astonished eye saw a young spruce sapling bending down above him to strike him.

His jaws let go their grip, and he leaped backward to escape this strange danger, his lips drawn back from his fangs, his throat snarling, every hair bristling with rage and fright.

And in that moment the sapling reared its slender length upright and the rabbit soared dancing in the air again.
The she-wolf was angry.

She sank her fangs into her mate's shoulder in reproof; and he, frightened, unaware of what constituted this new onslaught, struck back ferociously and in still greater fright, ripping down the side of the she-wolf's muzzle.

For him to resent such reproof was equally unexpected to her, and she sprang upon him in snarling indignation.