animal heroes(动物英雄)-第13章
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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；
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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
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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； she snarled and foamed。 One trap with its buried log； she might
have dragged； with two； she was helpless。 Struggle as she might； it only
worked those relentless jaws more deeply into her feet。 She snapped
wildly at the air； she tore the dead Hawk into shreds； she roared the short；
barking roar of a crazy Wolf。 She bit at the traps； at her cub； at herself。 She
tore her legs that were held； she gnawed in frenzy at her flank； she
chopped off her tail in her madness； she splintered all her teeth on the steel；
and filled her bleeding； foaming jaws with clay and sand。
She struggled till she fell； and writhed about or lay like dead； till
strong enough to rise and grind the chains again with her teeth。
And so the night passed by。
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And Duskymane？ Where was he？ The feeling of the time when his
foster…mother had come home poisoned； now returned； but he was even
more afraid of her。 She seemed filled with fighting hate。 He held away and
whined a little； he slunk off and came back when she lay still； only to
retreat again； as she sprang forward； raging at him； and then renewed her
efforts at the traps。 He did not understand it； but he knew this much； she
was in terrible trouble； and the cause seemed to be the same as that which
had scared them the night they had ventured near the Calf。
Duskymane hung about all night； fearing to go near； not knowing what
to do； and helpless as his mother。
At dawn the next day a sheepherder seeking lost Sheep discovered her
from a neighboring hill。 A signal mirror called the wolver from his camp。
Duskymane saw the new danger。 He was a mere Cub； though so tall； he
could not face the man； and fled at his approach。
The wolver rode up to the sorry； tattered； bleeding She…wolf in the trap。
He raised his rifle and soon the struggling stopped。
The wolver read the trail and the signs about； and remembering those
he had read before； he divined that this was the Wolf with the great Cub
the She…wolf of Sentinel Butte。
Duskymane heard the 〃crack〃 as he scurried off into cover。 He could
scarcely know what it meant； but he never saw his kind old foster…mother
again。 Thenceforth he must face the world alone。
VII
THE YOUNG WOLF WINS A PLACE AND FAME
Instinct is no doubt a Wolf's first and best guide； but gifted parents are
a great start in life。 The dusky…maned cub had had a mother of rare
excellence and he reaped the advantage of all her cleverness。 He had
inherited an exquisite nose and had absolute confidence in its admonitions。
Mankind has difficulty in recognizing the power of nostrils。 A Gray…wolf
can glance over the morning wind as a man does over his newspaper； and
get all the latest news。 He can swing over the ground and have the
minutest information of every living creature that has walked there within
many hours。 His nose even tells which way it ran； and in a word renders a
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statement of every animal that recently crossed his trail； whence it came；
and whither it went。
That power had Duskymane in the highest degree； his broad； moist
nose was evidence of it to all who are judges of such things。 Added to this；
his frame was of unusual power and endurance； and last； he had early
learned a deep distrust of everything strange； and； call it what we will；
shyness； wariness or suspicion； it was worth more to him than all his
cleverness。 It was this as much as his physical powers that made a success
of his life。 Might is right in wolf…land； and Duskymane and his mother
had been driven out of Sentinel Butte。 But it was a very delectable land
and he kept drifting back to his native mountain。 One or two big Wolves
there resented his coming。 They drove him off several times； yet each time
he returned he was better able to face them； and before he was eighteen
months old he had defeated all rivals and established himself again on his
native ground； where he lived like a robber baron； levying tribute on the
rich lands about him and finding safety in the rocky fastness。
Wolver Ryder often hunted in that country； and before long； he came
across a five…and…one…half…inch track； the foot…print of a giant Wolf。
Roughly reckoned； twenty to twenty…five pounds of weight or six inches
of stature is a fair allowance for each inch of a Wolf's foot； this Wolf
therefore stood thirty…three inches at the shoulder and weighed about one
hundred and forty pounds； by far the largest Wolf he had ever met。 King
had lived in Goat country； and now in Goat language he exclaimed： 〃You
bet； ain't that an old Billy？〃 Thus by trivial chance it was that Duskymane
was known to his foe； as 'Badlands Billy。'
Ryder was familiar with the muster…call of the Wolves； the long；
smooth cry； but Billy's had a singular feature； a slurring that was always
distinctive。 Ryder had heard this before； in the Cottonwood Ca 駉 n； and
when at length he got a sight of the big Wolf with the black mane； it struck
him that this was also the Cub of the old Yellow fury that he had trapped。
These were among the things he told me as we sat by the fire at night。
I knew of the early days when any one could trap or poison Wolves； of th
