He was puzzled.

He whined softly, and climbed upon his mother's big, soft back, and sat there.

Into his whine there came a strange note, and then out of his throat there rose a whimpering cry that was like the cry of a child.
Challoner heard that cry as he came back, and something seemed to grip hold of his heart suddenly, and choke him.

He had heard children crying like that; and it was the motherless cub! Creeping up behind a dwarf spruce he looked where Noozak lay dead, and saw Neewa perched on his mother's back.

He had killed many things in his time, for it was his business to kill, and to barter in the pelts of creatures that others killed.