THE "CALL OF THE WILD" 123 



a trick of scratching at the flannel cover of the 

 hot-water bottle, and it made his soft little feet 

 quite sore. I used grease, cold-cream, etc., upon 

 them, but could not get them right, and, on con- 

 sidering the matter, came to the conclusion that 

 the water-bottle was unnecessary, for cubs would 

 not have any heating apparatus under natural con- 

 ditions in an earth, and the vixen must be away 

 for many hours at a time ; so I took it from them 

 during the day. The result was that next morning 

 Jack refused to suck, he was not hungry again 

 in the afternoon, and at dawn the next day I found 

 him dead. Bitterly did I blame myself, but it 

 was too late, and all I could do was to see that 

 little Toby never needed something warm to lie 

 against. The consequence was that she had her 

 hot bottle filled several times daily, until she was 

 quite big, and had long ceased to need it. After 

 this she was indeed a pampered pet ! If I was 

 out for an hour or two my mother looked after 

 her, and one of us was continually playing with 

 or feeding her. When once her eyes were open 

 she became quite lively and active, and began to 

 play, making little feeble pounces at our fingers, 

 and pretending to worry them. Her teeth were 

 now appearing, little sharp pin points that made 

 themselves felt on one's fingers, and, judging that 

 with their advent she would be ready for solid food, 

 I offered her bits of meat. Though it was rabbit 

 flesh, the most natural food one can offer a fox, 

 she resolutely turned her snub nose away, until 

 I accidentally placed a piece of rabbit meat, with 



