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slowly from the feast； the Cub unwillingly following。
As he looked wistfully he saw the Coyotes drawing nearer； mindful
chiefly to avoid the Wolves。 He watched their really cautious
advance； it seemed like heedless rushing compared with his
mother's approach。 The Calf smell rolled forth in exquisite and
overpowering excellence now； for they were tearing the
meat； when a sharp clank was heard and a yelp from a Coyote。 At
the same time the quiet night was shocked with a roar and a flash
of fire。 Heavy shots spattered Calf and Coyotes； and yelping like
beaten Dogs they scattered； excepting one that was killed and a
second struggling in the trap set here by the ever…active
wolvers。 The air was charged with the hateful smells redoubled
now； and horrid smells additional。 The Yellow Wolf glided down a
hollow and led her Cub away in flight； but； as they went； they
saw a man rush from the bank near where the mother's nose had
warned her of the human scent。 They saw him kill the caught
Coyote and set the traps for more。
VI
THE BEGUILING OF THE YELLOW WOLF
The life game is a hard game； for we may win ten thousand times；
and if we fail but once our gain is gone。 How many hundred times
had the Yellow Wolf scorned the traps； how many Cubs she had
trained to do the same！ Of all the dangers to her life she best
knew traps。
October had come； the Cub was now much taller than the mother。
The wolver had seen them oncea Yellow Wolf followed by another；
whose long； awkward legs； big； soft feet； thin neck； and skimpy
tail proclaimed him this year's Cub。 The record of the dust and
sand said that the old one had lost a right front toe； and that
the young one was of giant size。
It was the wolver that thought to turn the carcass of the Calf to
profit； but he was disappointed in getting Coyotes instead of
Wolves。 It was the beginning of the trapping season； for this
month fur is prime。 A young trapper often fastens the bait on the
trap； an experienced one does not。 A good trapper will even put
the bait at one place and the trap ten or twenty feet away； but
at a spot that the Wolf is likely to cross in circling。 A
favorite plan is to hide three or four traps around an open
place； and scatter some scraps of meat in the middle。 The traps
are buried out of sight after being smoked to hide the taint of
hands and iron。 Sometimes no bait is used except a little piece
of cotton or a tuft of feathers that may catch the Wolf's eye or
pique its curiosity and tempt it to circle on the fateful；
treacherous ground。 A good trapper varies his methods continually
so that the Wolves cannot learn his ways。 Their only safeguards
are perpetual vigilance and distrust of all smells that are known
to be of man。
The wolver； with a load of the strongest steel traps； had begun
his autumn work on the 'Cottonwood。'
An old Buffalo trail crossing the river followed a little draw
that climbed the hills to the level upland。 All animals use these
trails； Wolves and Foxes as well as Cattle and Deer： they are the
main thoroughfares。 A cottonwood stump not far from where it
plunged to the gravelly stream was marked with Wolf signs that
told the wolver of its use。 Here was an excellent place for
traps； not on the trail； for Cattle were here in numbers； but
twenty yards away on a level； sandy spot he set four traps in a
twelve…foot square。 Near each he scattered two or three scraps of
meat； three or four white feathers on a spear of grass in the
middle completed the setting。 No human eye； few animal noses；
could have detected the hidden danger of that sandy ground； when
the sun and wind and the sand itself had dissipated the man…track
taint。
The Yellow Wolf had seen and passed； and taught her giant son to
pass； such traps a thousand times before。
The Cattle came to water in the heat of the day。 They strung down
the Buffalo path as once the Buffalo did。 The little Vesper…birds
flitted before them； the Cowbirds rode on them； and the
Prairie…dogs chattered at them； just as they once did at the
Buffalo。
Down from the gray…green mesa with its green…gray rocks； they
marched with imposing solemnity； importance； and directness of
purpose。 Some frolicsome Calves； playing along…side the trail；
grew sober and walked behind their mothers as the river flat was
reached。 The old Cow that headed the procession sniffed
suspiciously as she passed the 〃trap set；〃 but it was far away；
otherwise she would have pawed and bellowed over the scraps of
bloody beef till every trap was sprung and harmless。
But she led to the river。 After all had drunk their fill they lay
down on the nearest bank till late afternoon。 Then their unheard
dinner…gong aroused them； and started them on the backward march
to where the richest pastures grew。
One or two small birds had picked at the scraps of meat； some
blue…bottle flies buzzed about； but the sinking sun saw the sandy
mask untouched。
A brown Marsh Hawk came skimming over the river flat as the sun
began his color play。 Blackbirds dashed into thickets； and easily
avoided his clumsy pounce。 It was too early for the Mice； but； as
he skimmed the ground； his keen eye caught the flutter of
feathers by the trap and turned his flight。 The feathers in their
uninteresting emptiness were exposed before he was near； but now
he saw the scraps of meat。 Guileless of cunning； he alighted and
was devouring a second lump whenclankthe dust was flirted
high and the Marsh Hawk was held by his toes； struggling vainly
in the jaws of a powerful wolf…trap。 He was not much hurt。 His
ample wings winnowed from time to time； in efforts to be free；
but he was helpless； even as a Sparrow might be in a rat…trap；
and when the sun had played his fierce chromatic scale； his
swan…song sung； and died as he dies only in the blazing west； and
the shades had fallen on the melodramatic scene of the Mouse in
the elephant…trap； there was a deep； rich sound on the high flat
butte； answered by another； neither very long； neither repeated；
and both instinctive rather than necessary。 One was the
muster…call of an ordinary Wolf； the other the answer of a very
big male； not a pair in this case； but mother and son …
Yellow Wolf and Duskymane。 They came trotting together down the
Buffalo trail。 They paused at the telephone box on the hill and
again at the old cottonwood root； and were making for the river
when the Hawk in the trap fluttered his wings。 The old Wolf
turned toward him；…a wounded bird on the ground surely； and she
rushed forward。 Sun and sand soon burn all trail…scents； there
was nothing to warn her。 She sprang on the flopping bird and a
chop of her jaws ended his troubles； but a horrid soundthe
gritting of her teeth on steeltold her of peril。 She dropped
the Hawk and sprang backward from the dangerous ground； but
landed in the second trap。 High on her foot its death…grip
closed； and leaping with all her strength； to escape； she set her
fore foot in another of the lurking grips of steel。 Never had a
trap been so baited before。 Never was she so unsuspicious。 Never
was catch more sure。 Fear and fury filled the old Wolf's heart；
she tugged and strained； she chewed the chains