Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/26

 cession of the wild blood to the tame—the turning of the dog in in him to Moran. In order to keep the proper balance he presented his wolf side to all other men and would touch not a single bite of food that came from any other than Moran.

His education along all lines progressed. When Moran took long walks he led Flash with a light chain. Later he unsnapped it from the collar and Flash found himself free to wander around inside the cabin. Moran next tried him in the yard with the chain trailing loose. Flash was glad of this new opportunity to trot around, but it did not occur to him to leave. By gradual degrees Moran removed first the chain and then the collar, but Flash followed him as closely as before. His world revolved around Moran. His greatest moments were those that Moran spent in scratching his neck and ears and rolling him around in rough play. But he would let no other man touch him, moving stiffly away at the first sign of this intent.

Brent stopped at the cabin at infrequent intervals and on these occasions the hate flared to a white heat in Flash. From association he had lost his early unreasoning fear of men but had learned also that he must not turn his teeth against