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Chapter 40。 The Rarest of Pelts
They saw that silver fox three or four times during the winter；
and once found that he had had the audacity to jump from a high
snowdrift onto the storehouse and thence to the cabin roof； where
he had feasted on some white rabbits kept there for deadfall
baits。 But all attempts to trap or shoot him were vain； and
their acquaintance might have ended as it began； but for an
accident。
It proved a winter of much snow。 Heavy snow is the worst
misfortune that can befall the wood folk in fur。 It hides their
food beyond reach； and it checks their movements so they can
neither travel far in search of provender nor run fast to escape
their enemies。 Deep snow then means fetters； starvation； and
death。 There are two ways of meeting the problem： stilts and
snowshoes。 The second is far the better。 The caribou； and the
moose have stilts； the rabbit； the panther； and the lynx wear
snowshoes。 When there are three or four feet of soft snow； the
lynx is king of all small beasts； and little in fear of the large
ones。 Man on his snowshoes has most wild four…foots at his
mercy。
Skookum； without either means of meeting the trouble was left
much alone in the shanty。 Apparently； it was on one of these
occasions that the silver fox had driven him nearly frantic by
eating rabbits on the roof above him。
The exasperating robbery of their trap line had gone on
irregularly all winter； but the thief was clever enough or lucky
enough to elude them。
They were returning to the cabin after a three days' round； when
they saw； far out on the white expanse of the lake； two animals；
alternately running and fighting。 〃Skookum and the fox；〃 was the
first thought that came； but on entering the cabin Skookum
greeted them in person。
Quonab gazed intently at the two running specks and said： 〃One
has no tail。 I think it is a peeshoo （lynx） and a fox。〃
Rolf was making dinner。 From time to time he glanced over the
lake and saw the two specks； usually running。 After dinner was
over； he said； 〃Let's sneak 'round and see if we can get a shot。〃
So； putting on their snowshoes and keeping out of sight； they
skimmed over the deer crossing and through the woods； till at a
point near the fighters； and there they saw something that
recalled at once the day of Skookum's humiliation。
A hundred yards away on the open snow was a huge lynx and their
old friend； the black and shining silver fox； face to face； the
fox desperate； showing his rows of beautiful teeth； but sinking
belly deep in the snow as he strove to escape。 Already he was
badly wounded。 In any case he was at the mercy of the lynx who；
in spite of his greater weight； had such broad and perfect
snowshoes that he skimmed on the surface； while the fox's small
feet sank deep。 The lynx was far from fresh； and still stood in
some awe of those rows of teeth that snapped like traps when he
came too near。 He was minded； of course； to kill his black
rival； but not to be hurt in doing so。 Again and again there was
in some sort a closing fight； the wearied fox plunging
breathlessly through the treacherous； relentless snow。 If he
could only get back to cover； he might find a corner to protect
his rear and have some fighting chance for life。 But wherever he
turned that huge cat faced him； doubly armed； and equipped as a
fox can never be for the snow。
No one could watch that plucky fight without feeling his
sympathies go out to the beautiful silver fox。 Rolf； at least；
was for helping him to escape； when the final onset came。 In
another dash for the woods the fox plunged out of sight in a
drift made soft by sedge sticking through； and before he could
recover； the lynx's jaws closed on the back of his neck and the
relentless claws had pierced his vitals。
The justification of killing is self…preservation； and in this
case the proof would have been the lynx making a meal of the fox。
Did he do so？ Not at all。 He shook his fur； licked his chest
and paws in a self…congratulatory way； then giving a final tug at
the body； walked calmly over the snow along the shore。
Quonab put the back of his hand to his mouth and made a loud
squeaking； much like a rabbit caught in a snare。 The lynx
stopped； wheeled； and came trotting straight toward the promising
music。 Unsuspectingly he came within twenty yards of the
trappers。 The flint…lock banged and the lynx was kicking in the
snow。
The beautiful silver fox skin was very little injured and proved
of value almost to double their catch so far； while the lynx skin
was as good as another marten。
They now had opportunity of studying the tracks and learned that
the fox had been hunting rabbits in a thicket when he was set on
by the lynx。 At first he had run around in the bushes and saved
himself from serious injury； for the snow was partly packed by
the rabbits。 After perhaps an hour of this； he had wearied and
sought to save himself by abandoning the lynx's territory； so had
struck across the open lake。 But here the snow was too soft to
bear him at all； and the lynx could still skim over。 So it
proved a fatal error。 He was strong and brave。 He fought at
least another hour here before the much stronger； heavier lynx
had done him to death。 There was no justification。 It was a
clear case of tyrannical murder； but in this case vengeance was
swift and justice came sooner than its wont。
Chapter 41。 The Enemy's Fort
It pays 'bout once in a hundred times to git mad； but there
ain't any way o' tellin' beforehand which is the time
… Sayings of Si Sylvanne。
It generally took two days to run the west line of traps。 At a
convenient point they had built a rough shack for a half…way
house。 On entering this one day； they learned that since their
last visit it had been occupied by some one who chewed tobacco。
Neither of them had this habit。 Quonab's face grew darker each
time fresh evidence of the enemy was discovered； and the final
wrong was added soon。
Some trappers mark their traps； some do not bother。 Rolf had
marked all of theirs with a file； cutting notches on the iron。
Two； one； three； was their mark； and it was a wise plan； as it
turned out。
On going around the west beaver pond they found that all six
traps had disappeared。 In some； there was no evidence of the
thief； in some； the tracks showed clearly that they were taken by
the same interloper that had bothered them all along； and on a
jagged branch was a short blue yarn。
〃Now will I take up his trail and kill him；〃 said the Indian。
Rolf had opposed extreme measures； and again he remonstrated。
To his surprise； the Indian turned fiercely and said： 〃You know
it is white man。 If he was Indian would you be patient？ No！〃
〃There is plenty of country south of the lake； maybe he was here first。〃
〃You know he was not。 You should eat many pekan hearts。 I have
sought peace； now I fight。〃
He shouldered his pack； grasped his gun； and his snowshoes went
〃tssape； tssape； tssape；〃 over the snow。
Skookum was sitting by Rolf。 He rose to resume the march； and
trotted a few steps on Quonab's trail。 Rolf did not move； he was
dazed by the sudden and painful situation。 Mutiny is always
worse than war。 Skookum looked back； trotted on； still Rolf sat
staring。 Quonab's figure was lost in the distance； the dog's was
nearly so。 Rolf moved not。 All the events of the last year were
rushing through his mind； the refuge he had found with the
Indian； the incident of the buck fight and the tender nurse the
red man proved。 He wavered。 Then he saw Skookum coming back on
the trail。 The dog trotted up to the boy and dropped a glove；
one of Quonab's。 Undoubtedly the Indian had lost it； Skookum
had found it on the trail and mechanically brought it to the
nearest of his masters。 Without that glove Quonab's hand would
freeze。 Rolf rose and sped along the other's trail。 Having
taken the step； he found it easy to send a long halloo； then
another and another； till an answer came。 In a few minutes Rolf
came up。 The Indian was sitting on a log； waiting。 The glove was
handed over in silence； and received with a grunt。
After a minute or two； Rolf said 〃Let's get on；〃 and started on
the dim trail of the robber。
For an hour or two they strode in silence。 Then their course
rose as they reached a rocky range。 Among its bare； wind…swept
ridges all sign was lost； but the Indian kept on till they were
over and on the other side。 A far cast in the thick； windless
woods revealed the trail again； surely the same； for the snowshoe
was two fingers wider on every side； and a hand…breadth longer
than Quonab's； be… sides the right frame had been broken and the
binding of rawhide was faintly seen in the snow mark。 It was a
mark they had seen all winter； and now it was headed as b