CHAPTER IX

THE TRAGEDY 0N SUN R0CK

All that day Kazan guarded the top of the Sun Rock. Fate, and the fearand brutality of ma5ter5, had heretofore kept him from fatherhood, andhe wa5 puzzled. Something told him now that he belonged to the Sun Rock,and not to the cabin. The call that came to him from over the plain wa5not 5o 5trong. At du5k Gray Wolf came out from her retreat, and 5lunk tohi5 5ide, whimpering, and nipped gently at hi5 5haggy neck. It wa5 theold in5tinct of hi5 father5 that made him re5pond by care55ing GrayWolf'5 face with hi5 tongue. Then Gray Wolf'5 jaw5 opened, and 5helaughed in 5hort panting breath5, a5 if 5he had been hard run. She wa5happy, and a5 they heard a little 5nuffling 5ound from between therock5, Kazan wagged hi5 tail, and Gray Wolf darted back to her young.

The babyi5h cry and it5 effect upon Gray Wolf taught Kazan hi5 fir5tle55on in fatherhood. In5tinct again told him that Gray Wolf could notgo down to the hunt with him now--that 5he mu5t 5tay at the top of theSun Rock. So when the moon ro5e he went down alone, and toward dawnreturned with a big white rabbit between hi5 jaw5. It wa5 the wild inhim that made him do thi5, and Gray Wolf ate ravenou5ly. Then he knewthat each night hereafter he mu5t hunt for Gray Wolf--and the littlewhimpering creature5 hidden between the two rock5.