easiest way is to hang the critter up by the hindlegs
after skinning out these and the tail.

"These small boards Pat and I are making are for muskrats in the spring.
For marten, mink, otter, fisher and such like we use longer, narrower
boards; that is, they are narrower in proportion to their length. I'll
show you some presently. The best boards are those with a narrow strip
ripped out of the middle for the whole length. This makes a wedge or
tongue. Of course it should be tapered. This makes it possible to use
the board for various size animals and to stretch the skin to its
fullest extent. It also makes it easy to remove a skin from the board,
as taking out the wedge at once loosens the whole board.

"The skins are put on the stretchers fur side in. Then with a blunt
knife they are fleshed. That is, they are scraped clean of every
particle of fat and flesh. Then they are stretched to their fullest
extent and put to dry or cure in a cool, airy place. As soon as dry
enough to prevent shrinking or wrinkling they are taken from the boards.
Lynx and fox are then turned fur side out, but the others are left as
they are.

"Beaver, coon, bear, wolf and badger are skinned 'open.' That means that
a cut is made from the point of the jaw straight down the belly to the
vent. A cut is made down the inside of the forelegs across the breast to
the point of the brisket and another down the back of the hindlegs. Big
animals like bars, wolves and wolverines should be skinned out to the
ends of their toes and have the feet left on. These skins are stretched
flat, a coon nearly square, a beaver round, and others to their natural
shape. The best way is by lacing them with twine in a frame. Many
trappers lose money by careless handling of the furs. All dirt, blood
and lumps should be carefully removed. Lots of skins, prime when caught,
grade way down because of careless handling. Now I guess you chaps have
got your fill of furs. What about to-morrow? It's Christmas, ye ken."

"That's so, and it will be the queerest Christmas I ever have spent,"
said Hal thoughtfully. "We ought to celebrate, somehow. What's the
program, Pat?"

"How about a rabbit hunt in the morning, a big dinner and a
shooting-match in the afternoon?" replied Pat.

"Bully!" cried all three together.

"What's the matter with a Christmas tree in the evening?" added Upton.
"We ought to do something Christmasy."

"I was going to suggest that very thing," retorted Hal