animal heroes(动物英雄)-第14节
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into her family。 In a few days he was so much one of them that the mother
forgot about his being a stranger。 Yet he was different from them in several
waysolder by two weeks； stronger； and marked on the neck and
shoulders with what afterward grew to be a dark mane。
Little Duskymane could not have been happier in his choice of a
foster…mother； for the Yellow Wolf was not only a good hunter with a fund
of cunning； but she was a Wolf of modern ideas as well。 The old tricks of
tolling a Prairie Dog； relaying for Antelope； houghing a Bronco or
flanking a Steer she had learned partly from instinct and partly from the
example of her more experienced relatives； when they joined to form the
winter bands。 But； just as necessary nowadays； she had learned that all
men carry guns； that guns are irresistible； that the only way to avoid them
is by keeping out of sight while the sun is up； and yet that at night they are
harmless。 She had a fair comprehension of traps； indeed she had been in
one once； and though she left a toe behind in pulling free； it was a toe most
advantageously disposed of； thenceforth； though not comprehending the
nature of the trap； she was thoroughly imbued with the horror of it； with
the idea indeed that iron is dangerous； and at any price it should be
avoided。
On one occasion； when she and five others were planning to raid a
Sheep yard； she held back at the last minute because some newstrung
wires appeared。 The others rushed in to find the Sheep beyond their reach；
themselves in a death…trap。
Thus she had learned the newer dangers； and while it is unlikely that
she had any clear mental conception of them she had acquired a
wholesome distrust of all things strange； and a horror of one or two in
particular that proved her lasting safeguard。 Each year she raised her brood
successfully and the number of Yellow Wolves increased in the country。
Guns； traps； men and the new animals they brought had been learned； but
there was yet another lesson before hera terrible one indeed。
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Animal Heroes
About the time Duskymane's brothers were a month old his foster…
mother returned in a strange condition。 She was frothing at the mouth； her
legs trembled； and she fell in a convulsion near the doorway of the den；
but recovering； she came in。 Her jaws quivered； her teeth rattled a little as
she tried to lick the little ones； she seized her own front leg and bit it so as
not to bite them； but at length she grew quieter and calmer。 The Cubs had
retreated in fear to a far pocket； but now they returned and crowded about
her to seek their usual food。 The mother 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；
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Animal Heroes
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。
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Animal Heroes
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
