Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/87

 the den. Soft snifflings and squeaks issued from the depths of the hole. As he prepared to enter a savage snarl warned him off.

His curiosity was great and he wished to know more of this miracle but not until the pups were three weeks old did Silver let them come out for a romp on the sunny slope and Flash then saw them for the first time. Every night he had brought meat to the den and this was the result. He was very much excited as he nosed them over and Silver growled a warning not to be too rough when he rolled them around with his huge forepaw.

He was never allowed to occupy the den, which was just as well for in any event he could not have been induced to spend a day inside of it. He had seen Moran dig out the swift-fox den on Peace Creek. Once Harmon, the ranger, had found a hole and dropped into it a stick of something with a spluttering fuse attached. Shortly after they ran away there had sounded a roar as of several guns and Flash had watched Harmon dig out the crushed bodies of a coyote and her pups. So he spent the days alone in the hills and carried food at night.

The snow had melted from the foothills, leav-