shanty and the village of Carberry, was the corner-stake of the
farm; it was a stout post in a low mound of earth, and was visible
from afar.

I soon noticed that Bingo never passed without minutely
examining this mysterious post. Next I learned that it was also
visited by the prairie wolves as well as by all the dogs in the
neighborhood, and at length, with the aid of a telescope, I made a
number of observations that helped me to an understanding of the
matter and enabled me to enter more fully into Bingo's private life.

The post was by common agreement a registry of the canine
tribes. Their exquisite sense of smell enabled each individual to
tell at once by the track and trace what other had recently been at
the post. When the snow came much more was revealed. I then
discovered that this post was but one of a system that covered the
country; that, in short, the entire region was laid out in signal
stations at convenient intervals. These were marked by any
conspicuous post, stone, buffalo skull, or other object that chanced
to be in the desired locality, and extensive observation showed that
it was a very complete system for getting and giving the news.

Each dog or wolf makes a point of calling at those stations that are
near his line of travel to learn who has recently been there, just as
a man calls at his club on returning to town and looks up the
register.

I have seen Bingo approach the post, sniff, examine the ground
about, then growl, and with bristling mane and glowing eyes,
scratch fiercely and contemptuously with his hind feet, finally