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recovered； but was very ill for two or three days； and those days
with the poison in her system worked disaster for the brood。 They
were terribly sick； only the strongest could survive； and when
the trial of strength was over； the den contained only the old
one and the Black…maned Cub； the one she had adopted。 Thus little
Duskymane became her sole charge； all her strength was devoted to
feeding him； and he thrived apace。
Wolves are quick to learn certain things。 The reactions of smell
are the greatest that a Wolf can feel； and thenceforth both Cub
and foster…mother experienced a quick； unreasoning sense of fear
and hate the moment the smell of strychnine reached them。
IV
THE RUDIMENTS OF WOLF TRAINING
With the sustenance of seven at his service the little Wolf had
every reason to grow； and when in the autumn he began to follow
his mother on her hunting trips he was as tall as she was。 Now a
change of region was forced on them； for numbers of little Wolves
were growing up。 Sentinel Butte； the rocky fastness of the
plains； was claimed by many that were big and strong； the weaker
must move out； and with them Yellow Wolf and the Dusky Cub。
Wolves have no language in the sense that man has； their
vocabulary is probably limited to a dozen howls； barks； and
grunts expressing the simplest emotions； but they have several
other modes of conveying ideas； and one very special method of
spreading informationthe Wolf…telephone。 Scattered over their
range are a number of recognized 〃centrals。〃 Sometimes these are
stones； sometimes the angle of cross…trails； sometimes a
Buffalo…skullindeed； any conspicuous object near a main trail
is used。 A Wolf calling here； as a Dog does at a telegraph post；
or a Muskrat at a certain mud…pie point； leaves his body…scent
and learns what other visitors have been there recently to do the
same。 He learns also whence they came and where they went； as
well as something about their condition； whether hunted； hungry；
gorged； or sick。 By this system of registration a Wolf knows
where his friends； as well as his foes； are to be found。 And
Duskymane； following after the Yellow Wolf； was taught the places
and uses of the many signal…stations without any conscious
attempt at teaching on the part of his foster…mother。 Example
backed by his native instincts was indeed the chief teacher； but
on one occasion at least there was something very like the effort
of a human parent to guard her child in danger。
The Dark Cub had learned the rudiments of Wolf life： that the way
to fight Dogs is to run； and to fight as you run； never grapple；
but snap； snap； snap； and make for the rough country where Horses
cannot bring their riders。
He learned not to bother about the Coyotes that follow for the
pickings when you hunt； you cannot catch them and they do you no
harm。
He knew he must not waste time dashing after Birds that alight on
the ground； and that he must keep away from the little black and
white Animal with the bushy tail。 It is not very good to eat； and
it is very； very bad to smell。
Poison！ Oh； he never forgot that smell from the day when the den
was cleared of all his foster…brothers。
He now knew that the first move in attacking Sheep was to scatter
them； a lone Sheep is a foolish and easy prey； that the way to
round up a band of Cattle was to frighten a Calf。
He learned that he must always attack a Steer behind； a Sheep in
front； and a Horse in the middle； that is； on the flank； and
never； never attack a man at all； never even face him。 But an
important lesson was added to these； one in which the mother
consciously taught him of a secret foe。
V
THE LESSON ON TRAPS
A Calf had died in branding…time and now； two weeks later； was in
its best state for perfect taste； not too fresh； not
over…ripethat is； in a Wolf's opinion …and the wind carried
this information afar。 The Yellow Wolf and Duskymane were out for
supper； though not yet knowing where； when the tidings of veal
arrived； and they trotted up the wind。 The Calf was in an open
place； and plain to be seen in the moonlight。 A Dog would have
trotted right up to the carcass； an old…time Wolf might have
done so； but constant war had developed constant vigilance in the
Yellow Wolf； and trusting nothing and no one but her nose； she
slacked her speed to a walk。 On coming in easy view she stopped；
and for long swung her nose； submitting the wind to the closest
possible chemical analysis。 She tried it with her finest tests；
blew all the membranes clean again and tried it once more； and
this was the report of the trusty nostrils； yes； the unanimous
report。 First； rich and racy smell of Calf； seventy per cent。；
smells of grass； bugs； wood； flowers； trees； sand； and other
uninteresting negations； fifteen per cent。； smell of her Cub and
herself； positive but ignorable； ten per cent。； smell of human
tracks； two per cent。； smell of smoke； one per cent。； of sweaty
leather smell； one per cent。； of human body…scent （not
discernible in some samples）； one…half per cent。； smell of iron；
a trace。
The old Wolf crouched a little but sniffed hard with swinging
nose； the young Wolf imitatively did the same。 She backed off to
a greater distance； the Cub stood。 She gave a low whine； he
followed unwillingly。 She circled around the tempting carcass； a
new smell was recordedCoyote trail…scent； soon followed by
Coyote body…scent。 Yes； there they were sneaking along a near
ridge； and now as she passed to one side the samples changed； the
wind had lost nearly every trace of Calf； miscellaneous；
commonplace； and uninteresting smells were there instead。 The
human track…scent was as before； the trace of leather was gone；
but fully one…half per cent； of iron…odor； and body smell of man
raised to nearly two per cent。
Fully alarmed； she conveyed her fear to the Cub； by her rigid
pose； her air intent； and her slightly bristling mane。
She continued her round。 At one time on a high place the human
body scent was doubly strong； then as she dropped it faded。 Then
the wind brought the full calf…odor with several track…scents of
Coyotes and sundry Birds。 Her suspicions were lulling as in a
smalling circle she neared the tempting feast from the windward
side。 She had even advanced straight toward it for a few steps
when the sweaty leather sang loud and strong again； and smoke and
iron mingled like two strands of a parti…colored yarn。 Centring
all her attention on this； she advanced within two leaps of the
Calf。 There on the ground was a scrap of leather； telling also of
a human touch； close at hand the Calf； and now the iron and smoke
on the full vast smell of Calf were like a snake trail across the
trail of a whole Beef herd。 It was so slight that the Cub； with
the appetite and impatience of youth； pressed up against his
mother's shoulder to go past and eat without delay。 She seized
him by the neck and flung him back。 A stone struck by his feet
rolled forward and stopped with a peculiar clink。 The danger
smell was greatly increased at this； and the Yellow Wolf backed
slowly from the feast； the Cub unwillingly following。
As he looked wistfully he saw the Coyotes drawi