noon
Kathlyn made good use of this interval . But presently the pack raised its howl again , and she knew that the grim struggle was about to begin . She reached the door of the rest house just as the pack , a large one , came into view , heads down , tails streaming . Pundita , who was at the fire preparing the noon meal , seized Kathlyn by the arm and hurried her into the house , barricading the door . The wolves , arriving , flung themselves against it savagely . But the door was stout , and only a battering-ram in human hands could have made it yield . Unfortunately , there was no knowing when the men-folk would return from their chase of the horses , nor how long the wolves would lay siege .