按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quills； some of them new； some of them dating evidently from
another fight of the same kind； but none of them had done any
damage。 There was no inflammation or sign of poisoning。 〃It is
ever so；〃 said Quonab； 〃the quills cannot hurt him。〃 Then；
turning to the porcupine； he remarked； as he prepared to skin it：
〃Ho； Kahk！ you see now it was a big mistake you did not let Nana
Bojou sit on the dry end of that log。〃
Chapter 38。 The Silver Fox
They were returning to the cabin； one day； when Quonab stopped
and pointed。 Away off on the snow of the far shore was a moving
shape to be seen。
〃Fox； and I think silver fox； he so black。 I think he lives
there。〃
〃Why？〃 〃I have seen many times a very big fox track； and they
do not go where they do not live。 Even in winter they keep their
own range。〃
〃He's worth ten martens； they say？〃 queried Rolf。
〃Ugh！ fifty。〃
〃Can't we get him？〃
〃Can try。 But the water set will not work in winter； we must try
different。〃
This was the plan； the best that Quonab could devise for the
snow： Saving the ashes from the fire （dry sand would have
answered）； he selected six open places in the woods on the south
of the lake； and in each made an ash bed on which he scattered
three or four drops of the smell…charm。 Then； twenty…five yards
from each； on the north or west side （the side of the prevailing
wind） he hung from some sapling a few feathers； a partridge wing
or tail with some red yarns to it。 He left the places unvisited
for two weeks； then returned to learn the progress of act one。
Judging from past experience of fox nature and from the few signs
that were offered by the snow； this is what had happened： A fox
came along soon after the trappers left； followed the track a
little way； came to the first opening； smelled the seductive
danger…lure； swung around it； saw the dangling feathers； took
alarm； and went off。 Another of the places had been visited by a
marten。 He had actually scratched in the ashes。 A wolf had gone
around another at a safe distance。
Another had been shunned several times by a fox or by foxes； but
they had come again and again and at last yielded to the
temptation to investigate the danger…smell； finally had rolled in
it； evidently wallowing in an abandon of delight。 So far； the
plan was working there。
The next move was to set the six strong fox traps； each
thoroughly smoked； and chained to a fifteen…pound block of wood。
Approaching the place carefully and using his blood…rubbed
glove； Quonab set in each ash pile a trap。 Under its face he put
a wad of white rabbit fur。 Next he buried all in the ashes；
scattered a few bits of rabbit and a few drops of smell…charm；
then dashed snow over the place； renewed the dangling feathers to
lure the eye； and finally left the rest to the weather。
Rolf was keen to go the next day； but the old man said： 〃Wah！ no
good！ no trap go first night； man smell too strong。〃 The second
day there was a snowfall； and the third morning Quonab said； 〃Now
seem like good time。〃
The first trap was untouched； but there was clearly the track of
a large fox within ten yards of it。
The second was gone。 Quonab said； with surprise in his voice；
〃Deer！〃 Yes； truly； there was the record。 A deer a big one
had come wandering past； his keen nose soon apprised him of a
strong； queer appeal near by。 He had gone unsuspiciously toward
it； sniffed and pawed the unaccountable and exciting nose
medicine； then 〃snap！〃 and he had sprung a dozen feet； with that
diabolic smell…thing hanging to his foot。 Hop； hop； hop； the
terrified deer had gone into a slashing windfall。 Then the drag
had caught on the logs； and； thanks to the hard and taper hoofs；
the trap had slipped off and been left behind； while the deer had
sought safer regions。
In the next trap they found a beautiful marten dead； killed at
once by the clutch of steel。 The last trap was gone； but the
tracks and the marks told a tale that any one could read； a fox
had been beguiled and had gone off； dragging the trap and log。
Not far did they need to go； held in a thicket they found him；
and Rolf prepared the mid…day meal while Quonab gathered the
pelt。 After removing the skin the Indian cut deep and carefully
into the body of the fox and removed the bladder。 Its contents
sprinkled near each of the traps was good medicine； he said； a
view that was evidently shared by Skookum。
More than once they saw the track of the big fox of the region；
but never very near the snare。 He was too clever to be fooled by
smell…spells or kidney products； no matter how temptingly
arrayed。 The trappers did； indeed； capture three red foxes； but
it was at cost of great labour。 It was a venture that did not
pay。 The silver fox was there； but he took too good care of his
precious hide。 The slightest hint of a man being near was enough
to treble his already double wariness。 They would never have
seen him near at hand； but for a stirring episode that told a
tale of winter hardship。
Chapter 39。 The Humiliation of Skookum
If Skookum could have been interviewed by a newspaper man； he
would doubtless have said： 〃I am a very remarkable dog。 I can
tree partridges。 I'm death on porcupines。 I am pretty good in a
dog fight； never was licked in fact： but my really marvellous
gift is my speed； I'm a terror to run。〃
Yes； he was very proud of his legs； and the foxes that came about
in the winter nights gave him many opportunities of showing what
he could do。 Many times over he very nearly caught a fox。
Skookum did not know that these wily ones were playing with him；
but they were； and enjoyed it immensely。
The self…sufficient cur never found this out； and never lost a
chance of nearly catching a fox。 The men did not see those
autumn chases because they were by night； but foxes hunt much by
day in winter； perforce； and are often seen； and more than once
they witnessed one of these farcical races。
And now the shining white furnished background for a much more
important affair。
It was near sundown one day when a faint fox bark was heard out
on the snow…covered ice of the lake。
〃That's for me；〃 Skookum seemed to think； and jumping up； with a
very fierce growl； he trotted forth； the men looked first from
the window。 Out on the snow； sitting on his haunches； was their
friend； the big； black silver fox。
Quonab reached for his gun and Rolf tried to call Skookum； but it
was too late。 He was out to catch that fox； their business was
to look on and applaud。 The fox sat on his haunches； grinning
apparently； until Skookum dashed through the snow within twenty
yards。 Then； that shining； black fox loped gently away； his huge
tail level out behind him； and Skookum； sure of success； raced
up； within six or seven yards。 A few more leaps now； and the
victory would be won。 But somehow he could not close that six or
seven yard gap。 No matter how he strained and leaped； the great
black brush was just so far ahead。 At first they had headed for
the shore； but the fox wheeled back to the ice and up and down。
Skookum felt it was because escape was hopeless； and he redoubled
his effort。 But all in vain。 He was only wearing himself out；
panting noisily now。 The snow was deep enough to be a great
disadvantage； more to dog than to fox； since weight counted as
such a handicap。 Unconsciously Skookum slowed up。 The fox
increased his headway； then audaciously turned around and sat
down in the snow。
This was too much for the dog。 He wasted about a lungful of air
in an angry bark； and again went after the enemy。 Again the
chase was round and round； but very soon the dog was so wearied
that he sat down； and now the black fox actually came back and
barked at him。
It was maddening。 Skookum's pride was touched。
He was in to win or break。 His supreme effort brought him within
five feet of that white…tipped brush。 Then； strange to tell； the
big black fox put forth his large reserve of speed； and making
for the woods； left Skookum far behind。 Why？ The cause was
clear。 Quonab； after vainly watching for a chance to shoot； that
would not endanger the dog； had； under cover； crept around the
lake and now was awaiting in a thicket。 But the fox's keen nose
had warned him。 He knew that the funny part was over； so ran for
the woods and disappeared as a ball tossed up the snow behind
him。
Poor Skookum's tongue was nearly a foot long as he walked meekly
ashore。 He looked depressed； his tail was depressed； so were his
ears； but there was nothing to show whether he would have told
that reporter that he 〃wasn't feeling up to his usual； to…day；〃
or 〃Didn't you see me get the best of him？〃
Chapter 40。 The Rarest of Pelts
They saw that silver fox three or four times during the winter；