Mother Wolf was a little troubled at this, and she tried to dissuadehim. "Wait until it's time to take them to the pack, Sneaky," she saidin a friendly way. "I wouldn't trouble Black Wolf now. He's verybusy, you know."
"No," growled Sneaky stubbornly, "I'll see him at once. I've given into you in everything, but now it's my turn to rule, I'll go to BlackWolf tonight."
Sneaky could be very stubborn if he made up his mind, and Mother Wolfsaw that he was determined now to appeal to the leader of the packover her head. She sighed, but pretended not to care.
"All right, Sneaky," she replied meekly, "but see that you tell thetruth, and nothing but the truth."
"Trust me for that," was the grinning reply.
And that very night Sneaky trotted away through the dark woods towhere Black Wolf lived in a den by himself. Black Wolf was not onlythe leader of the pack, but a big powerful creature with hair so longand shaggy that no animal who tried to kill him could bite through itto reach his flesh. He had eyes that could see through the blackestnight, and muscles that were like steel.
He received Sneaky with a growl of discontent, for he had traveled farthat day to settle another family dispute among his people, and he wasvery tired and drowsy.
"What do you want, Sneaky?" he demanded fiercely. "Can't you see I'mtired and sleepy?"
"Yes, Black Wolf, I know you've earned a good night's rest, but Ibring a gift to you," replied Sneaky, laying before the leader the legof a lamb he had stolen from a farm-house on his way.
"Thanks," replied Black Wolf, sniffing to see if it was fresh meat."I'll eat it in the morning."
He closed his eyes, and soon would have been snoring if Sneaky hadn'tcontinued. "I came to see you for another reason," he added. "I wantto lay a question before you. Is it against the law of the pack toadmit a Raccoon as a member?"
Black Wolf opened one eye, and said crossly: "Why do you want tobother me with such a foolish question, Sneaky! I'm in no mood forjoking."
"This is no joke, Black Wolf. It's very serious. My mate has broughtup a Raccoon as one of her children, and now she intends to bring himto the pack for admission. What message shall I carry back to her?"
Black Wolf snorted, and raised his head long enough to think. Then, ina loud voice he added: "Go back and tell her that if she brings aRaccoon to the pack we'll pounce upon him and eat him alive. Go andtell her that I, Black Wolf, leader of the pack, has given his word."
"Thank you," replied Sneaky, bowing low, and crawling out of the den.He had obtained just the message he wanted, and he couldn't hurry fastenough to deliver it to Mother Wolf. In the next story we will seewhat Mother Wolf thought of it.
STORY SIX
MOTHER WOLF DECIDES TO ADOPT WASHER
Sneaky returned home and entered the den with every appearance ofbeing greatly pleased with himself. He licked his chops, smiled at thecubs, and said a pleasant word of of greeting to Mother Wolf. Indeed,he was so polite and agreeable that Washer wondered if something hadhappened to change his disposition for good; but Mother Wolf was notat all deceived. She understood that Sneaky had some important news onhis mind that he was anxious to get off.
After a while, when the little ones were outside of the den playing,she humored him with a smile, and said: "Why don't you tell me now,Sneaky? You've been dying to get it off your mind. Now's a good time."
"What do you mean my dear?" he asked, opening one eye, and looking assurprised and innocent as a baby.
"Don't put on that innocent air," protested his mate impatiently."I've lived long enough with you to know when important news isbothering you. Now out with it!"
Sneaky yawned dreadfully long, and stretched his limbs in the mostdeliberate manner. He knew that Mother Wolf was as impatient to hearthe news as he was to tell it. So he did not propose to humor herright away.
"You surprise me, my dear," he said finally. "What news do you speakof? I'm not a carrier of tales like Grayback the Weasel or Mr. Fox. Iwouldn't stoop to such things."
Mother Wolf laughed so hard that she had to hold her sides with bothfront paws. There was no way to tease Sneaky equal to that of laughingat his serious remarks. In a few minutes his face grew red and hisears lay back, and all the innocent expression vanished from his eyes.
"I don't see anything to laugh at," he growled. "Why don't you tell mewhat it is, and I'll join you if it's worth a laugh. It's veryill-mannered of any one to laugh alone in company!"
"Yes, I suppose it is," replied Mother Wolf, wiping her eyes."But"--regarding him slyly out of the corner of her eyes--"I didn'tknow you were company, Sneaky. Are you?"
"Never mind such foolish questions!" was the quick retort. "What wereyou laughing at--_me_?"
"Why, no, Sneaky, not at you. I wouldn't do such a thing. But I waslaughing at what you had on your mind."
"What had I on my mind?"
"The news that Black Wolf sent to me."
Sneaky was a little taken back by this remark, for he hadn't mentionedany message from Black Wolf.
"How do you know I've been to see Black Wolf?" he asked after a pause.
"You said you we're going. Didn't you expect me to believe you? Surelyyou haven't begun fibbing to me at your time of life, have you,Sneaky?"
"No, of course not," he stammered. "I didn't mean that. Yes, I've beento see Black Wolf."
"And he sent a message with you for me?"
"Well, now that you speak of it I remember he did," replied Sneaky,squatting down on his haunches.
"Then why didn't you say so at first?" snapped Mother Wolf. "Why didyou pretend surprise, and try to look so innocent? I knew all the timeyou had a message for me, and it was because you were trying so hardto look innocent that made me laugh. Sneaky, you're not a good actor.I wouldn't try it again if I were you."
His pride was wounded at this denial of all talent for acting, andSneaky dropped his nose down between his paws and looked verycrestfallen. "I suppose," he grumbled, "you think you know so much youcould tell me what Black Wolf's message is."
Mother Wolf paused before him and looked silently into his eyes beforeshe spoke again. Then she nodded her head. "I think I could almostguess it."
"Then it isn't necessary for me to tell you," replied Sneaky, thinkinghe had cornered her this time.
"Black Wolf was very much surprised and disgusted when you told him Iwas to bring Little Brother into the pack," she went on, ignoring hisremark, "and of course you didn't help matters any by telling my sideof the story. You didn't tell Black Wolf how I had brought LittleBrother up as my own child until I loved him as much as any of thecubs. You didn't tell him that from the first you wanted to kill him,and that you were anxious to get rid of him, and turn him loose in thewoods so the whole pack could hunt him. You didn't tell him that hehad been with us for so long that he was more Wolf than Raccoon, andthat his own people would not accept him, and if we abandoned him hewould be without any family or friends. Oh, no you didn't explain anyof these things to Black Wolf!"
"But, my dear, how could you expect me in a few minutes to tell allthat?" protested Sneaky. "Black Wolf was very tired and surly, and hedidn't want to talk to me at all. If I hadn't taken a present to himhe would have turned me out without listening."
Mother Wolf nodded. "I can quite understand that, Sneaky. He'sbothered to death by settling the quarrels of the pack. It's not allpleasure in being a leader."
"I should think not. It's a terribly responsible position, and I knowif I were leader I'd have my time well occupied."
"Yes, I think you would. You wouldn't have time to be interfering withhome matters so much. It must be great to be the mate of the leader ofthe pack."
Sneaky raised his head and flashed an angry glance at Mother Wolf, forher words recalled something unpleasant to the memory. When a youngWolf, with eyes always smiling and laughing, and hair long and curlyas the silk of the corn tassel, Mother Wolf was the envy of everyhunter of the pack, and Black Wolf had cast envious eyes upon herbefore he had been chosen leader. S
neaky recalled also that he haddeceived Black Wolf by telling him one day that Mother Wolf hadpromised to be his mate, although no such promise had then been made.He wondered if Mother Wolf had ever found out his little deception,and if Black Wolf suspected anything. This doubt had given him manyunpleasant moments.
His wandering thoughts were suddenly recalled to the present by MotherWolf. "Black Wolf told you," she said quietly, "that if I broughtLittle Brother to the pack council he'd refuse to receive him as amember. Isn't that what he said?"
"Yes," admited Sneaky, "and he said something more. If you bringLittle Brother before him, he'll order the whole pack to pounce on himand kill him."
"He said that!" exclaimed Mother Wolf in alarm. "Black Wolf sent thatmessage to me."
"Yes," replied Sneaky, smiling. "Now if you love Little Brother youwill keep him away from the pack council. You'd better turn him looseand let him return to his own people."
Mother Wolf was silent a moment. Then she raised her head, and saiddefiantly: "No, I'll never do that. His own people would reject him.I've brought him up, and I'll always be a mother to him unless heturns against me, and even then I shall continue to love him."
She stopped before adding her final challenge. "And, listen, Sneaky, Ishall take him before the pack council, and if Black Wolf orders thepack to pounce on him they'll have to fight me first."
Sneaky was so troubled by this that he had nothing to say. In the nextstory Washer shows the cubs a trick.
STORY SEVEN
WASHER LEARNS HE IS NOT A WOLF
Washer the Raccoon had been hunting with his Wolf brothers in thewoods around their cave den. This was a part of their education.Mother Wolf would take them for a walk some distance from the cave,and teach them to pick up the scent of other animals on the wind.Sometimes it would be Browny the Muskrat or Sleepy the Opossum andagain that of White Tail the Deer or Puma the Mountain Lion who hadwandered away from their natural haunts.
Whatever animal it was they scented, Mother Wolf would caution them tofollow it carefully, sneaking through the bushes with padded feet soas not to break a twig. She herself would remain behind so that allthe responsibility of the hunt would be on her children.
In the early days of these lessons, Washer was the quickest to learn,and the quickest to follow the scent. He was older than his WolfBrothers, and this accounted for his quickness. He could run fasterthan any of them, although his legs were shorter, and could climb upembankments and rocks without losing his foothold.
"Well done, Little Brother," Mother Wolf would say proudly when he hadout-distanced all his brothers. "Some day you will be a mighty hunter.Who knows but you may be leader of the pack yet."
Now Mother Wolf loved the stray little orphan so much that she wasblind to many things that she should have thought of. For one thing noraccoon was ever as large as a wolf, as strong, nor as fleet of foot.It was because Washer had the start in life that he seemed bigger andquicker of mind than her own children.
As the days and weeks passed, the Wolf cubs grew amazingly. Theycaught up to Washer, and then surpassed him in size. Their legs grewlong and slender, and one day in a race Washer was left behind inspite of all that he could do. It was the first race with the cubs hehad ever lost.
"Hi! What's the matter, Little Brother?" the cubs called to him."You're lazy today!"
"Yes, maybe I am," replied Washer, but he had an uneasy feeling thatit was something more than laziness. His shorter legs could go as fastas his brother's, but they could not cover so much ground.
The next day it was the same. They had all started on a scamper forthe brook, with Washer in the lead at the beginning, but long beforethey reached the water the raccoon was behind.
"Lazy again, Little Brother!" they laughed when he came up to them.
"No, I couldn't run any faster," Washer replied truthfully. "You'vegot longer legs than mine, and I can't keep up with you."
"So they are longer," replied the cubs, looking at their own longlegs.
"And you have stronger teeth and jaws than I have," continued Washer."You grow much faster. I don't seem to grow at all any more."
"Oh, your time will come," they answered, not wishing to offend him.
They continued to play together as formerly, but Washer always had tobe given a head start in a race. Then one day another thing surprisedthem. They were tearing at their food when Washer found that he couldno longer hold his own in this battle. The cubs had more powerful jawsthan he, and they jerked the food away from him and gobbled it up.
"I didn't get half my share," Washer grumbled.
"Why not? Can't you help yourself?"
Washer was silent. The truth was beginning to dawn upon him that hewas different from his brothers. They were fleeter of foot andstronger of jaws. They could also jump longer distances, takinggullies and ravines in leaps that carried them clear across. Washerhad to run around or climb down and then up the ravines.
"Little Brother, you can't keep up with us any more," the cubs saidone day more in sadness than in boastfulness. "How'll you join thehunt with us when we become members of the pack?"
"Listen, brothers," Washer said, "I cannot run as fast as you, norfight as fiercely for my food, but there is one thing I can do thatwill surprise you. I can go where none of you can follow."
They laughed at this challenge, and told him to show them the trick."We'll follow you," they said. "You can't lose us."
"All right! Follow me!"
Washer had found out that his sharp little claws were perfectlyadapted to tree climbing, and that his Wolf brothers could not get upa tree higher than the lowest branches which they might reach byjumping. He had tried climbing trees and found that it came as easyto him as running.
There was a big cedar tree near the brook, and after looking up it hestarted to climb the trunk. It was so easy for him that he went up italmost as quickly as Bobby Gray Squirrel could. His Wolf brothers satdown on their haunches in a circle around the tree and watched him inamazement.
Washer reached the first branches, and ran out on one big one. "Lookout, Little Brother, or you'll fall!" they shouted. "Be careful!"
Washer smiled and showed his teeth. "Oh, this is nothing! I'll climbto the top!"
He ran back to the trunk, and began climbing higher. Up and up he wentuntil his little body was lost among the foliage.
"He's lost!" exclaimed the Wolf cubs below. "Something's happened tohim! I can't see him!"
But Washer, having reached the top-most branch of the tree, bit off atwig and threw it down at them. "Here I am!" he cried. "Now follow meup here!"
The Wolf cubs immediately accepted the challenge. They started for thetree and began pawing at it They jumped and leaped up the trunk, andtried in every way to climb it. Their failure was so ludicrous thatWasher laughed heartily, encouraging them with loud words.
But no wolf can climb a tree, and the cubs soon stopped their efforts.Once more they squatted around in a circle and looked up at Washer.
"Will you teach me to climb?" asked one after another.
Washer considered a moment, and then said: "It's something that can'tbe taught brothers. If I could I would, but no wolf can ever climb atree."
They were so surprised and amazed at the exploit of their LittleBrother in climbing a tree that they surrounded him all the way homeand pestered him with all sorts of questions. When they reached theden they demanded of Mother Wolf the reason why they could not climb atree like Little Brother. Mother Wolf was both sad and pleased.
"I can't tell you," she replied, "why a wolf cannot climb a tree. Buthe simply can't any more than he can fly like a bird. Little Brotheris a Raccoon, you know, and--"
"What's a Raccoon? Isn't he a wolf?"
"No, dears, Little Brother isn't a wolf."
All the cubs looked in surprise at Washer. He was not like them. Hewasn't a Wolf. In the next story Washer finds one of his people treedby the cubs.
STORY EIGHT
THE CUBS TREE A STRANGER
Thereafter there was a different feeling between the Wolf cubs andWasher the Raccoon. The former could not help feeling that Washer wasan outsider, and while they tried to conceal their feelings they werenot entirely successful. He was not only not their real brother, buthe was a different kind of an animal--not a wolf at all.
One day when they were down by the brook, Washer plucked a rich, juicyroot to eat, for there had not been enough meat to go around that day,and Washer was hungry.
"What are you going to do with that, Little Brother?" one of the cubsasked, watching him carry the root away in his mouth.
"Why, eat it, of course," was the reply.
"What a funny thing to eat! I never ate a root before."
It was a fact that wolves never liked roots or leaves, while raccoonsfrequently eat both. Washer felt a little embarrassed, but he carriedthe root to the brook and dipped it in. The Wolf cubs followed him.
"What are you doing that for?" added another, as the raccooncontinued to dip the root in the water.
"Washing it, of course, before eating it," was the reply.
Once more there was surprise and curiosity on the faces of the cubs.Washer had unintentionally betrayed a trick of all his ancestors. Theraccoons nearly always dipped and washed their food in water beforeeating it. It was the most natural thing in the world for him to doit, but it was not until he saw the look of wonder in the eyes of hisplaymates that he realized this little act indicated once more what awide difference there was between them.
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