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course。 He sprang into the open river and swam for his life。
And the marten … why should it go in？ It hated the water； it was
not hungry； it was out for sport； and water sport is not to its
liking。 It braced its sinewy legs and halted at the very brink；
while bunny crossed to the safe woods。
Back now came Wahpestan； the brown death； over the logs like a
winged snake； skimming the ground like a sinister shadow； and
heading for the cabin as the cabin's owner watched。 Passing the
body of the squirrel it paused to rend it again； then diving into
the brush came out so far away and so soon that the watcher
supposed at first that this was another marten。 Up the shanty
corner it flashed； hardly appearing to climb； swung that yellow
throat and dark…brown muzzle for a second； then made toward the entry。
Rolf sat with staring eyes as the beautiful demon； elegantly
spurning the roof sods； went at easy； measured bounds toward the
open chink toward its doom。 One； two； three clearing the
prickly cedar bush； its forefeet fell on the hidden trap； clutch；
a savage shriek； a flashing； a struggle baffling the eyes to
follow； and the master of the squirrels was himself under
mastery。
Rolf rushed forward now。 The little demon in the trap was
frothing with rage and hate； it ground the iron with its teeth；
it shrieked at the human foeman coming。
The scene must end； the quicker the better； and even as the
marten itself had served the flying squirrel and the mice； and as
Quonab served the mink； so Rolf served the marten and the woods
was still。
Chapter 29。 Snowshoes
That's for Annette；〃 said Rolf； remembering his promise as he
hung the stretched marten skin to dry。
〃Yi！ Yi！ Yi！〃 came three yelps； just as he had heard them the
day he first met Quonab； and crossing the narrow lake he saw his
partner's canoe。
〃We have found the good hunting；〃 he said； as Rolf steadied the
canoe at the landing and Skookum； nearly well again； wagged his
entire ulterior person to welcome the wanderer home。 The first
thing to catch the boy's eye was a great； splendid beaver skin
stretched on a willow hoop。
〃Ho； ho！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Ugh； found another pond。〃
〃Good； good；〃 said Rolf as he stroked the flrst beaver skin he
had ever seen in the woods。
〃This is better；〃 said Quonab； and held up the two barkstones；
castors； or smell…glands that are found in every beaver and which
for some hid reason have an irresistible attraction for all wild
animals。 To us the odour is slight； but they have the power of
intensifying； perpetuating； and projecting such odorous
substances as may be mixed with them。 No trapper considers his
bait to be perfect without a little of the mysterious castor。 So
that that most stenchable thing they had already concocted of
fish…oil； putrescence； sewer…gas； and sunlight； when commingled
and multiplied with the dried…up powder of a castor； was
intensified into a rich； rancid； gas…exhaling hell…broth as
rapturously bewitching to our furry brothers as it is
poisonously nauseating to ourselves seductive afar like the
sweetest music； inexorable as fate； insidious as laughing…gas；
soothing and numbing as absinthe this； the lure and
caution…luller； is the fellest trick in all the trappers' code。
As deadly as inexplicable； not a few of the states have classed
it with black magic and declared its use a crime。
But no such sentiment prevailed in the high hills of Quonab's
time； and their preparations for a successful trapping season
were nearly perfect。 Thirty deadfalls made by Quonab； with the
sixty made on the first trip and a dozen steel traps； were surely
promise of a good haul。 It was nearly November now； the fur was
prime； then why not begin？ Because the weather was too fine。
You must have frosty weather or the creatures taken in the
deadfalls are spoiled before the trapper can get around。
Already a good； big pile of wood was cut； both shanty and
storeroom were chinked； plugged； and banked for the winter。 It
was not safe yet to shoot and store a number of deer； but there
was something they could do。 Snowshoes would soon be a necessary
of life； and the more of this finger work they did while the
weather was warm； the better。
Birch and ash are used for frames； the former is less liable to
split； but harder to work。 White ash was plentiful on the near
flat； and a small ten…foot log was soon cut and split into a lot
of long laths。 Quonab of course took charge； but Rolf followed
in everything。 Each took a lath and shaved it down evenly until
an inch wide and three quarters of an inch thick。 The exact
middle was marked； and for ten inches at each side of that it was
shaved down to half an inch in thickness。 Two flat crossbars；
ten and twelve inches long； were needed and holes to receive
these made half through the frame。 The pot was ready boiling and
by using a cord from end to end of each lath they easily bent it
in the middle and brought the wood into touch with the boiling
water。 Before an hour the steam had so softened the wood； and
robbed it of spring； that it was easy to make it into any desired
shape。 Each lath was cautiously bent round； the crossbars
slipped into their prepared sockets； a temporary lashing of cord
kept all in place； then finally the frames were set on a level
place with the fore end raised two inches and a heavy log put on
the frame to give the upturn to the toe。
Here they were left to dry and the Indian set about preparing
the necessary thongs。 A buckskin rolled in wet； hard wood ashes
had been left in the mud hole。 Now after a week the hair was
easily scraped off and the hide； cleaned and trimmed of all loose
ends and tags； was spread out soft； white； and supple。
Beginning outside； and following round and round the edge； Quonab
cut a thong of rawhide as nearly as possible a quarter inch wide。
This he carried on till there were many yards of it； and the hide
was all used up。 The second deer skin was much smaller and
thinner。 He sharpened his knife and cut it much finer； at least
half the width of the other。 Now they were ready to lace the
shoes； the finer for the fore and back parts； the heavy for the
middle on which the wearer treads。 An expert squaw would have
laughed at the rude snowshoes that were finished that day； but
they were strong and serviceable。
Naturally the snowshoes suggested a toboggan。 That was easily
made by splitting four thin boards of ash； each six inches wide
and ten feet long。 An up…curl was steamed on the prow of each；
and rawhide lashings held all to the crossbars。
Chapter 30。 Catching a Fox
As to wisdom； a man ain't a spring； he's a tank； an' gives out
only what he gathers〃 Sayings of Si Sylvanne
Quonab would not quit his nightly couch in the canvas lodge so
Rolf and Skookum stayed with him。 The dog was himself again； and
more than once in the hours of gloom dashed forth in noisy chase
of something which morning study of the tracks showed to have
been foxes。 They were attracted partly by the carrion of the
deer； partly by the general suitability of the sandy beach for a
gambolling place； and partly by a foxy curiosity concerning the
cabin； the hunters； and their dog。
One morning after several night arousings and many raids by
Skookum； Rolf said： 〃Fox is good now； why shouldn't I add some
fox pelts to that？〃 and he pointed with some pride to the marten
skin。
〃Ugh； good； go ahead； you will learn；〃 was the reply。
So getting out the two fox traps Rolf set to work。 Noting where
chiefly the foxes ran or played he chose two beaten pathways and
hid the traps carefully； exactly as he did for the marten； then
selecting a couple of small cedar branches he cut these and laid
them across the path； one on each side of the trap； assuming that
the foxes following the usual route would leap over the boughs
and land in disaster。 To make doubly sure he put a piece of meat
by each trap and half…way between them set a large piece on a
stone。
Then he sprinkled fresh earth over the pathways and around each
trap and bait so he should have a record of the tracks。
Foxes came that night； as he learned by the footprints along the
beach； but never one went near his traps。 He studied the marks；
they slowly told him all the main facts。 The foxes had come as
usual； and frolicked about。 They had discovered the bait and the
traps at once how could such sharp noses miss them and as
quickly noted that the traps were suspicious…smelling iron
things； that manscent； hand； foot； and body； were very evident
all about； that the only inducement to go forward was some meat
which was coarse and cold； not for a moment to be compared with
the hot juicy mouse meat that abounded in every meadow。 The
foxes were well fed and unhungry。 Why should they venture into
such e