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not see； could get some thrilling whiffs； and he strained forward
to improve his opportunities。 The sound of this slight struggle
caught the beaver's ear。 It stopped work； wheeled； and made for
the water hole。 The lynx sprang from his ambush； seized the
beaver by the back； and held on； but the beaver was double the
lynx's weight； the bank was steep and slippery； the struggling
animals kept rolling down hill； nearer and nearer the hole。
Then； on the very edge； the beaver gave a great plunge； and
splashed into the water with the lynx clinging to its back。 At
once they disappeared； and the hunters rushed to the place；
expecting them to float up and be an easy prey； but they did not
float。 At length it was clear that the pair had gone under the
ice； for in water the beaver was master。
After five minutes it was certain that the lynx must be dead。
Quonab cut a sapling and made a grappler。 He poked this way and
that way under the ice； until at length he felt something soft。
With the hatchet they cut a hole over the place and then dragged
out the body of the lynx。 The beaver； of course； escaped and was
probably little the worse。
While Quonab skinned the catch； Rolf prowled around the pond and
soon came running back to tell of a remarkable happening。
At another open hole a beaver had come out； wandered twenty yards
to a mound which he had castorized； then passed several hard wood
trees to find a large poplar or aspen； the favourite food tree。
This he had begun to fell with considerable skill； but for some
strange reason； perhaps because alone； he had made a
miscalculation； and when the tree came crashing down； it had
fallen across his back； killed him； and pinned him to the ground。
It was an easy matter for the hunters to remove the log and
secure his pelt； so they left the beaver pond； richer than they
had expected。
Next night； when they reached their half…way shanty； they had the
best haul they had taken on this line since the memorable day
wben they got six beavers。
The morning dawned clear and bright。 As they breakfasted； they
noticed an extraordinary gathering of ravens far away to the
north； beyond any country they had visited。 At least twenty or
thirty of the birds were sailing in great circles high above a
certain place； uttering a deep； sonorous croak； from time to
time。 Occasionally one of the ravens would dive down out of sight。
〃Why do they fly above that way？〃
〃That is to let other ravens know there is food here。 Their eyes
are very good。 They can see the signal ten miles away； so all
come to the place。 My father told me that you can gather all the
ravens for twenty miles by leaving a carcass so they can see it
and signal each other。 〃
〃Seems as if we should look into that。 Maybe another panther；〃
was Rolf's remark。
The Indian nodded； so leaving the bundle of furs in a safe place
with the snowshoes； that they carried on a chance； they set out
over the hard crust。 It was two or three miles to the ravens'
gathering； and； as before； it proved to be over a cedar brake
where was a deer yard。
Skookum knew all about it。 He rushed into the woods； filled with
the joy of martial glory。 But speedily came running out again as
hard as he could； yelling 〃yow； yow； yowl〃 for help； while
swiftly following； behind him were a couple of gray wolves。
Quonab waited till they were within forty yards； then； seeing the
men； the wolves slowed up and veered； Quonab fired； one of the
wolves gave a little； doglike yelp。 Then they leaped into the
bushes and were lost to view。
A careful study of the snow showed one or two triffing traces of
blood。 In the deer yard they found at least a dozen carcasses of
deer killed by the wolves； but none very recent。 They saw but
few deer and nothing more of the wolves； for the crust had made
all the country easy； and both kinds fled before the hunters。
Exploring a lower level of willow country in hopes of finding
beaver delayed them； and it was afternoon when they returned to
the half…way shanty； to find everything as they left it； except
that their Pack of furs had totally disappeared。
Of course； the hard crust gave no sign of track。 Their first
thought was of the old enemy； but； seeking far and near for
evidence； they found pieces of an ermine skin； and a quarter mile
farther； the rest of it； then； at another place； fragments of a
muskrat's skin。 Those made it look like the work of the
trapper's enemy； the wolverine； which； though rare； was surely
found in these hills。 Yes！ there was a wolverine scratch mark；
and here another piece of the rat skin。 It was very clear who
was the thief。
〃He tore up the cheapest ones of the lot anyway；〃 said Rolf。
Then the trappers stared at each other significantly only the
cheap ones destroyed； why should a wolverine show such
discrimination？ There was no positive sign of wolverine； in
fact； the icy snow gave no sign of anything。 There was little
doubt that the tom furs and the scratch marks were there to
mislead； that this was the work of a human robber； almost
certainly Hoag。
He had doubtless seen them leave in the morning； and it was
equally sure； since he had had hours of start； he would now be
far away。
〃Ugh！ Give him few days to think he safe； then I follow and
settle all；〃 and this time the Indian clearly meant to end the
matter。
Chapter 45。 The Subjugation of Hoag
A feller as weeps for pity and never does a finger…tap to help
is 'bout as much use as an overcoat on a drowning man。 Sayings
of Si Sylvanne。
SOME remarkable changes of weather made some remarkable changes
in their plan and saved their enemy from immediate molestation。
For two weeks it was a succession of thaws and there was much
rain。 The lake was covered with six inches of water； the river
had a current above the ice； that was rapidly eating； the latter
away。 Everywhere there were slush and wet snow that put an end
to travel and brought on the spring with a rush。
Each night there was； indeed； a trifling frost； but each day's
sun seemed stronger； and broad； bare patches of ground appeared
on all sunny slopes。
On the first crisp day the trappers set out to go the rounds；
knowing full well that this was the end of the season。
Henceforth for six months deadfall and snare would lie idle and
unset。
They went their accustomed line； carrying their snowshoes； but
rarely needing them。 Then they crossed a large track to which
Quonab pointed； and grunted affirmatively as Rolf said 〃Bear？〃
Yes！ the bears were about once more； their winter sleep was over。
Now they were fat and the fur was yet prime； in a month they
would be thin and shedding。 Now is the time for bear hunting
with either trap or dog。
Doubtless Skookum thought the party most fortunately equipped in
the latter respect； but no single dog is enough to bay a bear。
There must be three or four to bother him behind； to make him
face about and fight； one dog merely makes him run faster。
They had no traps； and knowing that a spring bear is a far
traveller； they made no attempt to follow。
The deadfalls yielded two martens； but one of them was spoiled by
the warm weather。 They learned at last that the enemy had a
trap…line； for part of which he used their deadfalls。 He had
been the rounds lately and had profited at least a little by
their labours。
The track； though two days old； was not hard to follow； either on
snow or ground。 Quonab looked to the lock of his gun； his lower
lip tightened and he strode along。
〃What are you going to do； Quonab？ Not shoot？〃
〃When I get near enough；〃 and the dangerous look in the red man's
eye told Rolf to be quiet and follow。
In three miles they passed but three of his marten traps very
lazy trapping and then found a great triangle of logs by a
tree with a bait and signs enough to tell the experienced eye
that； in that corner； was hidden a huge steel trap for bear。
They were almost too late in restraining the knowledge… hunger of
Skookum。 They went on a mile or two and realized in so doing
that； however poor a trapper the enemy might be； he was a good
tramper and knew the country。
At sundown they came to their half…way shelter and put up there
for the night。 Once when Rolf went out to glimpse the skies
before turning in； he heard a far tree creaking and wondered； for
it was dead calm。 Even Skookum noticed it。 But it was not
repeated。 Next morning they went on。
There are many quaint sounds in the woods at all times； the
rasping of trees； at least a dozen different calls by jays； twice
as many by ravens； and occasional notes from chicadees； grouse；
and owls。 The quadrupeds in general are more silent； but the red
squirrel is ever about and noisy； as well as busy。
Far…reaching sounds are these echoes of the wo