AboutthetimeDuskymane’sbrotherswereamontholdhisfoster—motherreturnedinastrangecondition。Shewasfrothingatthemouth，herlegstrembled，andshefellinaconvulsionnearthedoorwayoftheden，butrecovering，shecamein。Herjawsquivered，herteethrattledalittleasshetriedtolickthelittleones;sheseizedherownfrontlegandbititsoasnottobitethem，butatlengthshegrewquieterandcalmer。TheCubshadretreatedinfeartoafarpocket，butnowtheyreturnedandcrowdedabouthertoseektheirusualfood。Themotherrecovered，butwasveryillfortwoorthreedays，andthosedayswiththepoisoninhersystemworkeddisasterforthebrood。Theywereterriblysick;onlythestrongestcouldsurvive，andwhenthetrialofstrengthwasover，thedencontainedonlytheoldoneandtheBlack—manedCub，theoneshehadadopted。ThuslittleDuskymanebecamehersolecharge;allherstrengthwasdevotedtofeedinghim，andhethrivedapace。
Wolvesarequicktolearncertainthings。ThereactionsofsmellarethegreatestthataWolfcanfeel，andthenceforthbothCubandfoster—motherexperiencedaquick，unreasoningsenseoffearandhatethemomentthesmellofstrychninereachedthem。
IV
THERUDIMENTSOFWOLFTRAINING
WiththesustenanceofsevenathisservicethelittleWolfhadeveryreasontogrow，andwhenintheautumnhebegantofollowhismotheronherhuntingtripshewasastallasshewas。Nowachangeofregionwasforcedonthem，fornumbersoflittleWolvesweregrowingup。SentinelButte，therockyfastnessoftheplains，wasclaimedbymanythatwerebigandstrong;theweakermustmoveout，andwiththemYellowWolfandtheDuskyCub。