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 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