animal heroes- 第15部分

The　little　oneshalf　starved　before　they　camewere　a　double
drain；　for　they　took　the　time　she　might　have　spent　in　hunting。

The　Northern　Hare　is　the　favorite　food　of　the　Lynx；　and　in　some
years　she　could　have　killed　fifty　in　one　day；　but　never　one　did
she　see　this　season。　The　plague　had　done　its　work　too　well。

One　day　she　caught　a　Red…squirrel　which　had　run　into　a　hollow　log
that　proved　a　trap。　Another　day　a　fetid　Blacksnake　was　her　only
food。　A　day　was　missed；　and　the　little　ones　whined　piteously　for
their　natural　food　and　failing　drink。　One　day　she　saw　a　large
black　animal　of　unpleasant　but　familiar　smell。　Swiftly　and
silently　she　sprang　to　make　attack。　She　struck　it　once　on　the
nose；　but　the　Porcupine　doubled　his　head　under；　his　tail　flew　up；
and　the　mother　Lynx　was　speared　in　a　dozen　places　with　the　little
stinging　javelins。　She　drew　them　all　with　her　teeth；　for　she　had
〃learned　Porcupine〃　years　before；　and　only　the　hard　push　of　want
would　have　made　her　strike　one　now。

A　Frog　was　all　she　caught　that　day。　On　the　next；　as　she　ranged
the　farthest　woods　in　a　long；　hard　hunt；　she　heard　a　singular
calling　voice。　It　was　new　to　her。　She　approached　it　cautiously；
up　wind；　got　many　new　odors　and　some　more　strange　sounds　in
coming。　The　loud；　clear；　rolling　call　was　repeated　as　the　mother
Lynx　came　to　an　opening　in　the　forest。　In　the　middle　of　it　were
two　enormous　muskrat　or　beaver…houses；　far　bigger　than　the
biggest　she　ever　before　had　seen。　They　were　made　partly　of　logs
and　situated；　not　in　a　pond；　but　on　a　dry　knoll。　Walking　about
them　were　a　number　of　Partridges；　that　is；　birds　like　Partridges；
only　larger　and　of　various　colors；　red；　yellow；　and　white。

She　quivered　with　the　excitement　that　in　a　man　would　have　been
called　buck…fever。　Foodfoodabundance　of　food；　and　the　old
huntress　sank　to　earth。　Her　breast　was　on　the　ground；　her　elbows
above　her　back；　as　she　made　stalk；　her　shrewdest；　subtlest　stalk；
one　of　those　Partridges　she　must　have　at　any　price；　no　trick　now
must　go　untried；　no　error　in　this　hunt；　if　it　took　hoursall　day
she　must　approach　with　certainty　to　win　before　the　quarry　took
to　flight。

Only　a　few　bounds　it　was　from　wood　shelter　to　the　great
rat…house；　but　she　was　an　hour　in　crawling　that　small　space。　From
stump　to　brush；　from　log　to　bunch　of　grass　she　sneaked；　a
flattened　form；　and　the　Partridges　saw　her　not。　They　fed　about；
the　biggest　uttering　the　ringing　call　that　first　had　fallen　on
her　ear。

Once　they　seemed　to　sense　their　peril；　but　a　long　await　dispelled
the　fear。　Now　they　were　almost　in　reach；　and　she　trembled　with
all　the　eagerness　of　the　hunting　heart　and　the　hungry　maw。　Her
eye　centred　on　a　white　one　not　quite　the　nearest；　but　the　color
seemed　to　hold　her　gaze。

There　was　an　open　space　around　the　rat…house；　outside　that　were
tall　weeds；　and　stumps　were　scattered　everywhere。　The　white　bird
wandered　behind　these　weeds；　the　red　one　of　the　loud　voice　flew
to　the　top　of　the　rat…mound　and　sang　as　before。　The　mother　Lynx
sank　lower　yet。　It　seemed　an　alarm　note；　but　no；　the　white　one
still　was　there；　she　could　see　its　feathers　gleaming　through　the
weeds。　An　open　space　now　lay　about。　The　huntress；　flattened　like
an　empty　skin；　trailed　slow　and　silent　on　the　ground　behind　a　log
no　thicker　than　her　neck；　if　she　could　reach　that　tuft　of　brush
she　could　get　unseen　to　the　weeds　and　then　would　be　near　enough
to　spring。　She　could　smell　them　nowthe　rich　and　potent　smell　of
life；　of　flesh　and　blood；　that　set　her　limbs　a…tingle　and　her
eyes　a…glow。

The　Partridges　still　scratched　and　fed；　another　flew　to　the　high
top；　but　the　white　one　remained。　Five　more　slow…gliding；　silent
steps；　and　the　Lynx　was　behind　the　weeds；　the　white　bird　shining
through；　she　gauged　the　distance；　tried　the　footing；　swung　her
hind　legs　to　clear　some　fallen　brush；　then　leaped　direct　with　all
her　force；　and　the　white　one　never　knew　the　death　it　died；　for
the　fateful　gray　shadow　dropped；　the　swift　and　deadly　did　their
work；　and　before　the　other　birds　could　realize　the　foe　or　fly；
the　Lynx　was　gone；　with　the　white　bird　squirming　in　her　jaws。

Uttering　an　unnecessary　growl　of　inborn　ferocity　and　joy　she
bounded　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　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　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