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the hot juicy mouse meat that abounded in every meadow。 The
foxes were well fed and unhungry。 Why should they venture into
such evident danger？ In a word； walls of stone could not have
more completely protected the ground and the meat from the foxes
than did the obvious nature of the traps； not a track was near；
and many afar showed how quickly they had veered off。
〃Ugh； it is always so；〃 said Quonab。 〃Will you try again？ 〃
〃Yes； I will； 〃 replied Rolf； remembering now that he had omitted
to deodorize his traps and his boots。
He made a fire of cedar and smoked his traps； chains； and all。
Then taking a piece of raw venison he rubbed it on his leather
gloves and on the soles of his boots； wondering how he had
expected to succeed the night before with all these man…scent
killers left out。 He put fine； soft moss under the pan of each
trap； then removed the cedar brush； and gently sprinkled all with
fine； dry earth。 The set was perfect； no human eye could have
told that there was any trap in the place。 It seemed a foregone
success。
〃Fox don't go by eye； 〃 was all the Indian said； for he reckoned
it best to let the learner work it out。
In the morning Rolf was up eager to see the results。 There was
nothing at all。 A fox had indeed； come within ten feet at one
place； but behaved then as though positively amused at the
childishness of the whole smelly affair。 Had a man been there on
guard with a club； he could not have kept the spot more wholly
clear of foxes。 Rolf turned away baffled and utterly puzzled。 He
had not gone far before he heard a most terrific yelping from
Skookum； and turned to see that trouble…seeking pup caught by the
leg in the first trap。 It was more the horrible surprise than
the pain； but he did howl。
The hunters came quickly to the rescue and at once he was freed；
none the worse； for the traps have no teeth； they merely hold。
It is the long struggle and the starvation chiefly that are
cruel； and these every trapper should cut short by going often
around his line。
Now Quonab took part。 〃That is a good setting for some things。
It would catch a coon； a mink； or a marten； or a dog but
not a fox or a wolf。 They are very clever。 You shall see。〃
The Indian got out a pair of thick leather gloves； smoked them in
cedar； also the traps。 Next he rubbed his moccasin soles with
raw meat and selecting a little bay in the shore he threw a long
pole on the sand； from the line of high； dry shingle across to
the water's edge。 In his hand he carried a rough stake。 Walking
carefully on the pole and standing on it； he drove the stake in
at about four feet from the shore； then split it； and stuffed
some soft moss into the split。 On this he poured three or four
drops of the 〃smell…charm。〃 Now he put a lump of spruce gum on
the pan of the trap； holding a torch under it till the gum was
fused； and into this he pressed a small； flat stone。 The chain of
the trap he fastened to a ten…pound stone of convenient shape；
and sank the stone in the water half…way between the stake and
the shore。 Last he placed the trap on this stone； so that when
open everything would be under water except the flat stone on the
pan。 Now he returned along the pole and dragged it away with
him。
Thus there was now no track or scent of human near the place。
The setting was a perfect one； but even then the foxes did not go
near it the following night； they must become used to it。 In
their code； 〃 A strange thing is always dangerous。〃 In the
morning Rolf was inclined to scoff。 But Quonab said： 〃Wah！ No
trap goes first night。〃
They did not need to wait for the second morning。 In the middle
of the night Skookum rushed forth barking； and they followed to
see a wild struggle； the fox leaping to escape and fast to his
foot was the trap with its anchor stone a…dragging。
Then was repeated the scene that ended the struggle of mink and
marten。 The creature's hind feet were tied together and his body
hung from a peg in the shanty。 In the morning they gloated over
his splendid fur and added his coat to their store of trophies。
Chapter 31。 Following the Trap Line
That night the moon changed。 Next day came on with a strong
north wind。 By noon the wild ducks had left the lake。 Many long
strings of geese passed southeastward； honking as they flew。
Colder and colder blew the strong wind； and soon the frost was
showing on the smaller ponds。 It snowed a little； but this
ceased。 With the clearing sky the wind fell and the frost grew
keener。
At daybreak； when the hunters rose； it was very cold。 Everything
but the open lake was frozen over； and they knew that winter was
come； the time of trapping was at hand。 Quonab went at once to
the pinnacle on the hill； made a little fire； then chanting the
〃Hunter's Prayer；〃 he cast into the fire the whiskers of the fox
and the marten； some of the beaver castor； and some tobacco。
Then descended to prepare for the trail blankets； beaver
traps； weapons； and food for two days； besides the smell…charm
and some fish for bait。
Quickly the deadfalls were baited and set； last the Indian threw
into the trap chamber a piece of moss on which was a drop of the
〃smell；〃 and wiped another drop on each of his moccasins。
〃Phew；〃 said Rolf。
〃That make a trail the marten follow for a month；〃 was the
explanation。 Skookum seemed to think so too； and if he did not
say 〃phew；〃 it was because he did not know how。
Very soon the little dog treed a flock of partridge and Rolf with
blunt arrows secured three。 The breasts were saved for the
hunters' table； but the rest with the offal and feathers made the
best of marten baits and served for all the traps； till at noon
they reached the beaver pond。 It was covered with ice too thin
to bear； but the freshly used landing places were easily
selected。 At each they set a strong； steel beaver…trap；
concealing it amid some dry grass； and placing in a split stick a
foot away a piece of moss in which were a few drops of the magic
lure。 The ring on the trap chain was slipped over a long； thin；
smooth pole which was driven deep in the mud； the top pointing
away from the deep water。 The plan was old and proven。 The
beaver； eager to investigate that semifriendly smell； sets foot
in the trap； instinctively when in danger he dives for the deep
water； the ring slips along the pole till at the bottom and there
it jams so that the beaver cannot rise again and is drowned。〃
In an hour the six traps were set for the beavers； presently the
hunters； skirmishing for more partridges； had much trouble to
save Skookum from another porcupine disaster。
They got some more grouse； baited the traps for a couple of
miles； then camped for the night。
Before morning it came on to snow and it was three inches deep
when they arose。 There is no place on earth where the first snow
is more beautiful than in the Adirondacks。 In early autumn
nature seems to prepare for it。 Green leaves are cleared away to
expose the berry bunches in red； rushbeds mass their groups； turn
golden brown and bow their heads to meet the silver load； the low
hills and the lines of various Christmas trees are arrayed for
the finest effect： the setting is perfect and the scene； but it
lacks the lime light yet。 It needs must have the lavish blaze of
white。 And when it comes like the veil on a bride； the silver
mountings on a charger's trappings； or the golden fire in a
sunset； the shining crystal robe is the finishing； the crowning
glory； without which all the rest must fail； could have no bright
completeness。 Its beauty stirred the hunters though it found no
better expression than Rolf's simple words； 〃Ain't it fine；〃
while the Indian gazed in silence。
There is no other place in the eastern woods where the snow has
such manifold tales to tell； and the hunters that day tramping
found themselves dowered over night with the wonderful power of
the hound to whom each trail is a plain record of every living
creature that has passed within many hours。 And though the first
day after a storm has less to tell than the second； just as the
second has less than the third； there was no lack of story in the
snow。 Here sped some antlered buck； trotting along while yet the
white was flying。 There went a fox； sneaking across the line of
march； and eying distrustfully that deadfall。 This broad trail
with many large tracks not far apart was made by one of Skookum's
friends； a knight of many spears。 That bounding along was a
marten。 See how he quartered that thicket like a hound； here he
struck our odour trail。 Mark； how he paused and whiffed it； now
away he goes； yes； straight to our trap。
〃It's down； hurrah！〃 Rolf shouted； for there； dead under the log；
was an exquisite marten； dark； almost black； with a great； broad；
shining breast of gold。