ar as it lumbered off in a panic through the bushes.
Like the unfortunate lynx, the bear had been stalking the beavers on
his own account, and had almost stepped upon the silent watchers in
the thicket.

[Illustration: "IT WAS NO LONGER A LOG, BUT A BIG GRAY LYNX."]

CHAPTER V

Dam Repairing and Dam Building

AS the Boy trudged triumphantly back toward camp, over the crest of
the moon-bright ridge, he carried the limp, furry body of the lynx
slung by its hind legs over his shoulder. He felt that his prestige
had gone up incalculably in the woodsman's eyes. The woodsman was
silent, however, as silent as the wilderness, till they descended the
other slope and came in sight of the little solitary camp. Then he
said: "That was a mighty slick shot of yourn, d'ye know it? Ye're
quicker'n chain lightnin', an' dead on!"

"Just luck, Jabe!" replied the Boy carelessly, trying to seem properly
modest.

This different suggestion Jabe did not take the trouble to controvert.
He knew the Boy did not mean it.

"But I thought as how ye wouldn't kill anything?" he went on,
teasingly.

"Had to!" retorted the Boy. "That was self-defence! Those beavers are
my beavers. An' I've always wanted a real good excuse for getting a
good lynx skin, anyway!"

"I don't blame ye a mite fer standin' by them beaver!" continued Jabe.
"They're jest all right! It was better'n any circus; an' I don't know
when I've enjoyed myself more."

"Then the least you can do, Jabe, is promise not to trap any more
beavers!" said the Boy quickly.

"Wa'al," answered Jabe, as they entered camp and began spreading their
blankets, "leastwise I'll do my best to see that no harm comes to them
beaver, nor to the pond."

Next morning, as the woodsman was starting out for the day's cruise,
the Boy said to him:

"If you're game for another night's watching, Jabe, I'll show you
something altogether different up at the pond to-night."

"Try me!" responded the woodsman.

"You'll have to be back earlier than usual, then," said the Boy.
"We'll have to get hidden earlier, and in a new place."

"I'll come back along a couple of hours afore sundown, then," answered
Jabe, swinging off on his long, mooselike stride. It was contrary to
his backwoods etiquette to ask what was in store for him; but his
curiosity was excited, and kept him company through the solitude all
day.

When Jabe was gone, the Boy went straight up-stream to the dam, taking
no special care