208 
THE WOLF. 
“Human nature is a poor critter, my dears, 
if you take it at the very best; and the 
bravest man that ever lived has as much 
need to pray not to be led into temptation 
as the greatest coward that ever ran away 
from his shadow.” 
“ In almost all the wolf-stories I have ever 
read,” said Richard, after a little pause, 
“there seems to be a great number together. 
Do they usually hunt in packs ?” 
“ They are very apt to, especially in win¬ 
ter. Some say that the mother and her 
young ones keep together till the cubs are 
a year old. Sometimes they seem to collect 
together for the purpose of hunting some 
one animal, and then separate again. They 
appear to have a real liking for each others’ 
company,—poor brutes! it is only natural, 
as every thing else turns against them,—and, 
if a single wolf finds something to eat, he 
likes to invite others to share it with him. 
This sociable disposition of their’s has saved 
people’s lives sometimes, by giving them a 
chance to escape while the first wolf was 
inviting his guests. I remember one in¬ 
stance in particular, which happened in the 
north part of Michigan when that country 
