The wolves behind collided with the young wolf and expressed their displeasure by administering sharp nips on his hind-legs and flanks.

He was laying up trouble for himself, for lack of food and short tempers went together; but with the boundless faith of youth he persisted in repeating the manoeuvre every little while, though it never succeeded in gaining anything for him but discomfiture.
Had there been food, love-making and fighting would have gone on apace, and the pack-formation would have been broken up.

But the situation of the pack was desperate.

It was lean with long-standing hunger.

It ran below its ordinary speed.