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into the forest； and bee…like sped for home。 The last quiver had gone from
the warm body of the victim when she heard the sound of heavy feet ahead。
She leaped on a log。 The wings of her prey were muffling her eyes； so she
laid the bird down and held it safely with one paw。 The sound drew nearer；
the bushes bent； and a Boy stepped into view。 The old Lynx knew and
hated his kind。 She had watched them at night； had followed them； had
been hunted and hurt by them。 For a moment they stood face to face。 The
huntress growled a warning that was also a challenge and a defiance；
picked up the bird and bounded from the log into the sheltering bushes。 It
was a mile or two to the den； but she stayed not to eat till the sunlit
opening and the big basswood came to view； then a low 〃prr…prr〃 called
forth the little ones to revel with their mother in a plenteous meal of the
choicest food。
III
THE HOME OF THE LYNX
At first Thor； being town…bred； was timid about venturing into the
woods beyond the sound of Corney's axe； but day by day he went farther；
guiding himself； not by unreliable moss on trees； but by sun； compass； and
landscape features。 His purpose was to learn about the wild animals rather
than to kill them； but the naturalist is close kin to the sportsman； and the
gun was his constant companion。 In the clearing； the only animal of any
size was a fat Woodchuck； it had a hole under a stump some hundred
yards from the shanty。 On sunny mornings it used to lie basking on the
stump； but eternal vigilance is the price of every good thing in the woods。
The Woodchuck was always alert and Thor tried in vain to shoot or even
to trap him。
〃Hyar；〃 said Corney one morning； 〃time we had some fresh meat。〃 He
took down his rifle； an old…fashioned brass…mounted small…bore； and
loading with care that showed the true rifleman； he steadied the weapon
against the door…jamb and fired。 The Woodchuck fell backward and lay
still。 Thor raced to the place and returned in triumph with the animal；
shouting： 〃Plumb through the headone hundred and twenty yards。〃
Corney controlled the gratified smile that wrestled with the corners of
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his mouth； but his bright eyes shone a trifle brighter for the moment。
It was no mere killing for killing's sake； for the Woodchuck was
spreading a belt of destruction in the crop around his den。 Its flesh
supplied the family with more than one good meal and Corney showed
Thor how to use the skin。 First the pelt was wrapped in hardwood ashes
for twenty…four hours。 This brought the hair off。 Then the skin was soaked
for three days in soft soap and worked by hand； as it dried； till it came out
a white strong leather。
Thor's wanderings extended farther in search of the things which
always came as surprises however much he was looking for them。 Many
days were blanks and others would be crowded with incidents； for
unexpectedness is above all the peculiar feature of hunting； and its lasting
charm。 One day he had gone far beyond the ridge in a new direction and
passed through an open glade where lay the broken trunk of a huge
basswood。 The size impressed it on his memory。 He swung past the glade
to make for the lake； a mile to the west； and twenty minutes later he
started back as his eye rested on a huge black animal in the crotch of a
hemlock； some thirty feet from the ground。 A Bear！ At last； this was the
test of nerve he had half expected all summer； had been wondering how
that mystery 〃himself〃 would act under this very trial。 He stood still； his
right hand dived into his pocket and； bringing out three or four buckshot；
which he carried for emergency； he dropped them on top of the birdshot
already in the gun； then rammed a wad to hold them down。
The Bear had not moved and the boy could not see its head； but now
he studied it carefully。 It was not such a large oneno； it was a small one；
yes； very smalla cub。 A cub！ That meant a mother Bear at hand； and Thor
looked about with some fear； but seeing no signs of any except the little
one； he levelled the gun and fired。
Then to his surprise down crashed the animal quite dead； it was not a
Bear； but a large Porcupine。 As it lay there he examined it with wonder
and regret； for。 he had no wish to kill such a harmless creature。 On its
grotesque face he found two or three long scratches which proved that he
had not been its only enemy。 As he turned away he noticed some blood on
his trousers； then saw that his left hand was bleeding。 He had wounded
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himself quite severely on the quills of the animal without knowing it。 He
was sorry to leave the specimen there； and Loo； when she learned of it；
said it was a shame not to skin it when she 〃needed a fur…lined cape for the
winter。〃
On another day Thor had gone without a gun； as he meant only to
gather some curious plants he had seen。 They were close to the clearing；
he knew the place by a fallen elm。 As he came to it he heard a peculiar
sound。 Then on the log his eye caught two moving things。 He lifted a
bough and got a clear view。 They were the head and tail of an enormous
Lynx。 It had seen him and was glaring and grumbling； and under its foot
on the log was a white bird that a second glance showed to be one of their
own precious hens。 How fierce and cruel the brute looked！ How Thor
hated it！ and fairly gnashed his teeth with disgust that now； when his
greatest chance was come； he for once was without his gun。 He was in not
a little fear； too； and stood wondering what to do。 The Lynx growled
louder； its stumpy tail twitched viciously for a minute； then it picked up its
victim； and leaping from the log was lost to view。
As it was a very rainy summer； the ground was soft everywhere； and
the young hunter was led to follow tracks that would have defied an expert
in dryer times。 One day he came on piglike footprints in the woods。 He
followed them with little difficulty； for they were new； and a heavy rain
two hours before had washed out all other trails。 After about half a mile
they led him to an open ravine； and as he reached its brow he saw across it
a flash of white； then his keen young eyes made out the forms of a Deer
and a spotted Fawn gazing at him curiously。 Though on their trail he was
not a little startled。 He gazed at them open…mouthed。 The mother turned
and raised the danger flag； her white tail； and bounded lightly away； to be
followed by the youngster； clearing low trunks with an effortless leap； or
bending down with catlike suppleness when they came to a log upraised so
that they might pass below。
He never again got a chance to shoot at them； though more than once
he saw the same two tracks； or believed they were the same； as for some
cause never yet explained； Deer were scarcer in that unbroken forest than
they were in later years when clearings spread around。
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