Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/245

 the contrary, would have relied upon what he had previously discovered and which his reasoning mind assured him would be the same as in the past.

Moran watched him closely. When less than a quarter of a mile from the mouth of the creek Flash stopped abruptly, his hair bristling. A snarl rumbled in his throat. He had caught the trail scent of a man he knew. Moran turned and nodded to Vermont.

“He’s caught a trail scent,” he said. “He would be more excited if he smelled the man himself.”

Vermont assented, knowing this was true. They went ahead, hunting carefully for a sign. Flash noted these movements and immediately associated them with Moran’s actions during his two days of training. This was grasped the more readily from the fact that Moran still kept him leashed, yet he made no move to help. These other trails which Moran had sought had been made by friends. This man he knew for an enemy. He was one of those who had been around the fire that night. Flash had driven his teeth into him at least twice during the fight. Now that the actual scent was there he had no