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thing his eyes rested upon was the opposite bank； toward which he
immediately began to swim。 The stream was a small one； but in the pool it
widened out to a score of feet。
Midway in the passage； the current picked up the cub and swept him
downstream。 He was caught in the miniature rapid at the bottom of the
pool。 Here was little chance for swimming。 The quiet water had become
suddenly angry。 Sometimes he was under； sometimes on top。 At all times
he was in violent motion； now being turned over or around； and again；
being smashed against a rock。 And with every rock he struck； he yelped。
His progress was a series of yelps； from which might have been adduced
the number of rocks he encountered。
Below the rapid was a second pool； and here； captured by the eddy； he
was gently borne to the bank； and as gently deposited on a bed of gravel。
He crawled frantically clear of the water and lay down。 He had learned
some more about the world。 Water was not alive。 Yet it moved。 Also； it
looked as solid as the earth； but was without any solidity at all。 His
conclusion was that things were not always what they appeared to be。 The
cub's fear of the unknown was an inherited distrust； and it had now been
strengthened by experience。 Thenceforth； in the nature of things； he would
possess an abiding distrust of appearances。 He would have to learn the
reality of a thing before he could put his faith into it。
One other adventure was destined for him that day。 He had recollected
that there was such a thing in the world as his mother。 And then there came
to him a feeling that he wanted her more than all the rest of the things in
the world。 Not only was his body tired with the adventures it had
undergone； but his little brain was equally tired。 In all the days he had
lived it had not worked so hard as on this one day。 Furthermore； he was
sleepy。 So he started out to look for the cave and his mother； feeling at the
same time an overwhelming rush of loneliness and helplessness。
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He was sprawling along between some bushes； when he heard a sharp
intimidating cry。 There was a flash of yellow before his eyes。 He saw a
weasel leaping swiftly away from him。 It was a small live thing； and he
had no fear。 Then； before him； at his feet； he saw an extremely small live
thing； only several inches long； a young weasel； that； like himself； had
disobediently gone out adventuring。 It tried to retreat before him。 He
turned it over with his paw。 It made a queer； grating noise。 The next
moment the flash of yellow reappeared before his eyes。 He heard again the
intimidating cry； and at the same instant received a sharp blow on the side
of the neck and felt the sharp teeth of the mother…weasel cut into his flesh。
While he yelped and ki…yi'd and scrambled backward； he saw the
mother…weasel leap upon her young one and disappear with it into the
neighbouring thicket。 The cut of her teeth in his neck still hurt； but his
feelings were hurt more grievously； and he sat down and weakly
whimpered。 This mother…weasel was so small and so savage。 He was yet
to learn that for size and weight the weasel was the most ferocious；
vindictive； and terrible of all the killers of the Wild。 But a portion of this
knowledge was quickly to be his。
He was still whimpering when the mother…weasel reappeared。 She did
not rush him； now that her young one was safe。 She approached more
cautiously； and the cub had full opportunity to observe her lean； snakelike
body； and her head； erect； eager； and snake…like itself。 Her sharp； menacing
cry sent the hair bristling along his back； and he snarled warningly at her。
She came closer and closer。 There was a leap； swifter than his unpractised
sight； and the lean； yellow body disappeared for a moment out of the field
of his vision。 The next moment she was at his throat； her teeth buried in
his hair and flesh。
At first he snarled and tried to fight； but he was very young； and this
was only his first day in the world； and his snarl became a whimper； his
fight a struggle to escape。 The weasel never relaxed her hold。 She hung on；
striving to press down with her teeth to the great vein were his life…blood
bubbled。 The weasel was a drinker of blood； and it was ever her preference
to drink from the throat of life itself。
The grey cub would have died； and there would have been no story to
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write about him； had not the she…wolf come bounding through the bushes。
The weasel let go the cub and flashed at the she…wolf's throat； missing； but
getting a hold on the jaw instead。 The she… wolf flirted her head like the
snap of a whip； breaking the weasel's hold and flinging it high in the air。
And； still in the air； the she…wolf's jaws closed on the lean； yellow body；
and the weasel knew death between the crunching teeth。
The cub experienced another access of affection on the part of his
mother。 Her joy at finding him seemed even greater than his joy at being
found。 She nozzled him and caressed him and licked the cuts made in him
by the weasel's teeth。 Then； between them； mother and cub； they ate the
blood…drinker； and after that went back to the cave and slept。
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CHAPTER V … THE LAW OF MEAT
The cub's development was rapid。 He rested for two days； and then
ventured forth from the cave again。 It was on this adventure that he found
the young weasel whose mother he had helped eat； and he saw to it that
the young weasel went the way of its mother。 But on this trip he did not
get lost。 When he grew tired； he found his way back to the cave and slept。
And every day thereafter found him out and ranging a wider area。
He began to get accurate measurement of his strength and his
weakness； and to know when to be bold and when to be cautious。 He
found it expedient to be cautious all the time； except for the rare moments；
when； assured of his own intrepidity； he abandoned himself to petty rages
and lusts。
He was always a little demon of fury when he chan