the eggs all warm for his breakfast. 



And 



when he had eaten all he wanted he would 

 take an egg in his mouth and run about un- 

 easily here and there, like a dog with a bone 

 when he thinks he is watched, till he had 

 made a sad crisscross of his trail and found 

 a spot where none could see him. There he 

 would dig a hole and bury his egg and go 

 back for more; and on his way would meet 

 another cub running about with an egg in 

 his mouth, looking for a spot where no one 

 would notice him. 



From mice and eggs the young cubs turned 

 to rabbits and hares ; and these were their 

 staple food ever afterward when other game 

 was scarce and the wood-mice were hidden 

 deep under the winter snows, safe at last for 

 a little season from all their enemies. Here 

 for the first time the father wolf appeared, 

 coming in quietly one late afternoon, as if he 

 knew, as he probably did, just when he was 

 needed. Beyond a glance he paid no attention 

 whatever to the cubs, only taking his place 

 opposite the mother as the wolves started 

 ^ abreast in a long line to beat the thicket. 



