48 
Northern Trails. Book I 
as the grasshopper wiggled; and always with a doubt in 
their close-set eyes, a questioning twist of head and ears, 
as if they were not quite sure whether or not they were 
really eating him. 
Another suggestive thing came out in these hunts, 
which you must notice whether you watch wolves or 
coyotes or a den of fox cubs. Though no sound came 
from the watchful old mother, the cubs seemed at 
every instant under absolute control. One would rush 
away pell-mell after a hopper, miss him and tumble away 
again, till he was some distance from the busy group on 
the edge of the big lonely barren. In the midst of his 
chase the mother would raise her head and watch the 
cub intently. No sound was uttered that human ears 
could hear; but the chase ended right there, on the 
instant, and the cub came trotting back like a well- 
broken setter at the whistle. It was marvelous beyond 
comprehension, this absolute authority and this silent 
command that brought a wolf back instantly from the 
wildest chase, and that kept the cubs all together under 
the watchful eyes that followed every movement. No 
wonder wolves are intelligent in avoiding every trap and 
in hunting together to outwit some fleet-footed quarry 
with unbelievable cunning. Here on the edge of the 
vast, untrodden barren, far from human eyes, in an 
ordinary family of wolf cubs playing wild and free, 
eager, headstrong, hungry, yet always under control 
