noon
He flashed a swift glance at Percival who stood at his side , and saw that his face was white as death , that his lips were drawn into a thin , bloodless line , and that little beads of sweat stood out like dew on the white brow . But even as he looked , the stenographer stretched out his hand and laid it on the great dog 's head , and he , too , stroked the silvery hair of the great ruff . Waseche , noticing that Connie cast an inquiring glance at the newcomer , introduced him , abruptly : `` Son , this here 's Roarin ' Mike O'Reilly , from over on the Tanana . He 's our new stenographer , an ' while he goes an ' gits on his reg ` lar clothes , you an ' me an ' the Injun will knock off fer noon , an ' go over to the cabin . '' During the preparation of the midday meal Connie told Waseche of how he had found ` Merican Joe , starved and unconscious in his little snow-covered shelter tent , and of how , out of gratitude , the Indian had presented him with Leloo . Waseche eyed the great ruffed animal sombrely , as Connie dwelt upon his curiously mixed nature -- how he ran the ridges at night at the head of the wolf pack , and of how , ripping and slashing , he had defended his helpless master against the fangs of those same wolves . `` Well , son , '' he drawled , when the boy had concluded , `` he 's the finest brute I ever seen -- barrin ' none .