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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 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。
He never again saw them； but he saw the mother oncehe thought
it was the sameshe was searching the woods with her nose；
trying the ground for trails； she was nervous and anxious；
evidently seeking。 Thor remembered a trick that Corney had told
him。 He gently stooped； took up a broad blade of grass； laid it
between the edges of his thumbs； then blowing through this simple
squeaker he made a short； shrill bleat； a fair imitation of a
Fawn's cry for the mother； and the Deer； though a long way off；
came bounding toward him。 He snatched his gun； meaning to kill
her； but the movement caught her eye。 She stopped。 Her mane
bristled a little； she sniffed and looked inquiringly at him。 Her
big soft eyes touched his heart； held back his hand； she took a
cautious step nearer； got a full whiff of her mortal enemy；
bounded behind a big tree and away before his merciful impulse
was gone。 〃Poor thing；〃 said Thor； 〃I believe she has lost her
little one。〃
Yet once more the Boy met a Lynx in the woods。 Half an hour after
seeing the lonely Deer he crossed the long ridge that lay some
miles north of the shanty。 He had passed the glade where the
great basswood lay when a creature like a big bob…tailed Kitten
appeared and looked innocently at him。 His gun went up； as usual；
but the Kitten merely cocked its head on one side and fearlessly
surveyed him。 Then a second one that he had not noticed before
began to play with the first； pawing at its tail and inviting its
brother to tussle。
Thor's first thought to shoot was stayed as he watched their
gambols； but the remembrance of his feud with their race came
back。 He had almost raised the gun when a fierce rumble close at
hand gave him a start； and there； not ten feet from him； stood
the old one； looking big and fierce as a Tigress。 It was surely
folly to shoot at the young ones now。 The boy nervously dropped
some buckshot on the charge while the snarling growl rose and
fell； but before he was ready to shoot at her the old one had
picked up something that was by her feet； the boy got a glimpse
of rich brown with white spotsthe limp form of a newly killed
Fawn。 Then she passed out of sight。 The Kittens followed； and he
saw her no more until the time when； life against life； they were
weighed in the balance together。
IV
THE TERROR OF THE WOODS
Six weeks had passed in daily routine when one day the young
giant seemed unusually quiet as he went about。 His handsome face
was very sober and he sang not at all that morning。
He and Thor slept on a hay…bunk in one corner of the main room；
and that night the Boy awakened more than once to hear his
companion groaning and tossing in his sleep。 Corney arose as
usual in the morning and fed the horses； but lay down again while
the sisters got breakfast。 He roused himself by an effort and
went back to work； but came home early。 He was trembling from
head to foot。 It was hot summer weather； but he could not be kept
warm。 After several hours a reaction set in and Corney was in a
high fever。 The family knew well now that he had the dreaded
chills and fever of the backwoods。 Margat went out and gathered a
lapful of pipsissewa to make tea； of which Corney was encouraged
to drink copiously。
But in spite of all their herbs and nursing the young man got
w