b uneasy and nervous. So he kept
on till he reached the timber line, where both food and foes were scarce,
and here on the edge of the Mountain-sheep land at last he got a chance to
rest.

[Illustration]

IV

Wahb never was sweet-tempered like his baby sister, and the persecutions by
his numerous foes were making him more and more sour. Why could not they
let him alone in his misery? Why was every one against him? If only he had
his Mother back! If he could only have killed that Blackbear that had
driven him from his woods! It did not occur to him that some day he himself
would be big. And that spiteful Bobcat, that took advantage of him; and
the man that had tried to kill him. He did not forget any of them, and he
hated them all.

Wahb found his new range fairly good, because it was a good nut year. He
learned just what the Squirrels feared he would, for his nose directed him
to the little granaries where they had stored up great quantities of nuts
for winter's use. It was hard on the Squirrels, but it was good luck for
Wahb, for the nuts were delicious food. And when the days shortened and the
nights began to be frosty, he had grown fat and well-favored.

He traveled over all parts of the canyon now, living mostly in the higher
woods, but coming down at times to forage almost as far as the river. One
night as he wandered by the deep water a peculiar smell reached his nose.
It was quite pleasant, so he followed it up to the water's edge. It seemed
to come from a sunken log. As he reached over toward this, there was a
sudden _clank_, and one of his paws was caught in a strong, steel
Beaver-trap.

[Illustration: "WAHB YELLED AND JERKED BACK."]

Wahb yelled and jerked back with all his strength, and tore up the stake
that held the trap. He tried to shake it off, then ran away through the
bushes trailing it. He tore at it with his teeth; but there it hung, quiet,
cold, strong, and immovable. Every little while he tore at it with his
teeth and claws, or beat it against the ground. He buried it in the earth,
then climbed a low tree, hoping to leave it behind; but still it clung,
biting into his flesh. He made for his own woods, and sat down to try to
puzzle it out. He did not know what it was, but his little green-brown eyes
glared with a mixture of pain, fright, and fury as he tried to understand
his new enemy.

[Illustration]

He lay down under the bushes, and, intent on deliberately crus