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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£»

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£º¡¡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£º¡¡¡¨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

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