RASTUS EARNS HIS SLEEP 273 
Meanwhile Rastus had been having other 
troubles not connected with dogs and men. He 
was the father of a large and growing family of 
five, which had to be looked after by himself and 
their mother pretty much all summer, for they 
were not born till late in May, and at first they 
were as helpless as kittens, and later, as they 
grew up and could get around a bit, they had to 
be taught how to climb trees and to be watched 
when the parents went abroad, for they insisted 
on following when they got a chance, and cried 
like babies if they couldn’t keep up. When the 
corn was in the milk, Rastus would take the 
whole family down to a cornfield and they would 
reach up and strip the ears, eating their fill— 
which was considerable, and spoiling even more 
than they ate. Then they all had to be led safely 
back again to the snug, safe den up in the rocks 
before daybreak. It was fortunate, perhaps, for 
all the family that Wolf’s master did not get his 
hunting idea until after the children were grown 
enough to shift for themselves, and they could 
scatter if necessary at the signs of danger. 
Rastus and his mate were out one night, under 
