to bite out the ice that had formed between the toes. The animal knew 

enough to do this" (69).

Instinct is better than knowledge because the dog knows to immediately get rid of the ice, whereas the man did not know because he had not experienced it.

old man of Sulphur Creek" (79).

Instinct is better than knowledge because the man refused to acknowledge his lack of instinct. He relied on the little bit of knowledge that he had, and he ended up dying. 

But it would not come to the man" (76). 

The dog symbolizes instinct because it relied on its feeling rather than past experiences. The dog saved himself from being killed, yet the man ended up dying.