' to ask
Dad to let us have some traps, and we can trap together, and I'm not
doubtin' we'll be gettin' some fur. We'll be partners."

"That'll be great! When can we start setting them?"

"When we comes back from goin' with Dad to his path."

"Where are we going now? We're not going the way we came."

"I'm takin' a short way through the timber. We may see some pa'tridges."

They walked for a few minutes in silence, when Toby, who was in the
lead, suddenly stopped, and examined the snow at his feet.

"What is it?" asked Charley in excitement, as Toby pointed to some
large tracks in the snow.

Toby, looking in the direction in which the tracks led, said nothing for
a moment. They were large tracks--nearly large enough for those of a
bear, and the steps taken by the animal that made them were short steps.

"What tracks are they?" Charley repeated, with bated breath. "Are they
wolf tracks or bear tracks?"

"They looks something like bear tracks, but 'tis not a bear made un,"
answered Toby. "'Tis not heavy enough for a bear, and bear tracks has
nail marks. This un has no nail marks. A bear steps longer, too. 'Tis
the track of a lynx, I'm thinkin'."

"Is a lynx dangerous?" asked Charley, a strange tingle chasing up and
down his spine.

"They're not like to be unless they gets cornered," said Toby. "Anything
fights when 'tis cornered. Even a fox would do that. This track is
fresh. 'Twere just made. I'm thinkin' the lynx is handy by, and we might
get a shot at un. He's around huntin' rabbits. Let's follow he."

"All right, I'm for it!" agreed Charley, quite excited at the prospect
of a lynx hunt.

The two boys set forward in silence, following the well defined trail
left by the animal. They had gone but a short distance when Toby stopped
and pointed at a red-stained and trampled place in the snow, with some
bits of fur lying about.

"He kills a rabbit here," whispered Toby. "See how fresh 'tis. That
stick is fresh wet with the rabbit's blood. 'Tis sure a lynx. 'Tis the
only beast makin' that big track that kills rabbits. I knows now 'tis a
lynx."

"It must be _very_ near!" whispered Charley, his heart beating fast.

"We're like to see he any minute," agreed Toby. "He's right handy. We'll
have to be keepin' wonderful quiet now."

"Will he run when he sees us?" asked Charley anxiously.

"He's not like to run at first. 'Tis the way of the lynx to stop and
look before he goes, but 'twould be easy to lose sight