ches of ground appeared on all sunny
slopes.

On the first crisp day the trappers set out to go the rounds, knowing
full well that this was the end of the season. Henceforth for six months
deadfall and snare would lie idle and unset.

They went their accustomed line, carrying their snowshoes, but rarely
needing them. Then they crossed a large track to which Quonab pointed,
and grunted affirmatively as Rolf said "Bear?" Yes! the bears were about
once more; their winter sleep was over. Now they were fat and the fur
was yet prime; in a month they would be thin and shedding. Now is the
time for bear hunting with either trap or dog.

Doubtless Skookum thought the party most fortunately equipped in the
latter respect, but no single dog is enough to bay a bear. There must
be three or four to bother him behind, to make him face about and fight;
one dog merely makes him run faster.

They had no traps, and knowing that a spring bear is a far traveller,
they made no attempt to follow.

The deadfalls yielded two martens, but one of them was spoiled by the
warm weather. They learned at last that the enemy had a trap-line, for
part of which he used their deadfalls. He had been the rounds lately and
had profited at least a little by their labours.

The track, though two days old, was not hard to follow, either on snow
or ground. Quonab looked to the lock of his gun; his lower lip tightened
and he strode along.

"What are you going to do, Quonab? Not shoot?"

"When I get near enough," and the dangerous look in the red man's eye
told Rolf to be quiet and follow.

In three miles they passed but three of his marten traps--very lazy
trapping--and then found a great triangle of logs by a tree with a bait
and signs enough to tell the experienced eye that, in that corner, was
hidden a huge steel trap for bear.

They were almost too late in restraining the knowledge-hunger of
Skookum. They went on a mile or two and realized in so doing that,
however poor a trapper the enemy might be, he was a good tramper and
knew the country.

At sundown they came to their half-way shelter and put up there for the
night. Once when Rolf went out to glimpse the skies before turning in,
he heard a far tree creaking and wondered, for it was dead calm. Even
Skookum noticed it. But it was not repeated. Next morning they went on.

There are many quaint sounds in the woods at all times, the rasping
of trees, at least a dozen different calls by jays, tw