Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/229

 outside man, Brent. Moran recalled his frequent absences from home; the isolation of his cabin in the little blind basin from which a deep gorge led far back into the hills. A few trips with a pack train in the summer and fall would solve the problem of winter food. He explained this to Vermont.

“Very likely,” he returned. “What’s your idea of the best way to locate them?”

“Track them down with Flash,” said Moran.

“But he’s no trail hound,” Vermont objected. “Collies, shepherds and the wolf breeds won’t hold a trail.”

“That’s because they’re trained for other things,” Moran pointed out. “It’s harder to teach them to hold a trail than it is to train a hound whose natural inclination already leans that way; but it can be done.”

“But it will take a month to train him.” Vermont was not convinced.

“Not over two days,” Moran corrected. “Three at the outside. A hound wouldn’t do at all. You’ll need a silent trailer for this job, a dog broken to track at the end of a leash. One that will lead you up to them without a sound. His actions will tell us when we’re close to them-