amp; smell the meat; dig him up; carry him away; we kill him."

This was no easy matter, as the wolverine is, without exception, the
most cunning animal in the woods. He far outstrips in this respect the
fox or wolf or bear. What these Indians were going to do must be done
quickly. The first thing was to see that their guns were well-loaded
with bullets. The next was to find out if his quick eyes had seen them
when for the few seconds they must have been visible when they rounded
the point. The wind was in their favour, as it was blowing from him to
them. The oldest of the crew was appointed the leader, the rest were to
follow his directions. First of all he quietly went ashore, and,
noiselessly crawling through the underbrush across the point, he was
able to see that the wolverine was still at work. It was evident that
he had not the slightest suspicion that his enemies, the hunters, were
near him. Returning to the canoe from this inspection, the leader gave
orders that they were to paddle back into the deep bay so that there
would be a possibility of their landing and getting in behind him, as
their old camp which he was robbing was close to the shore.

Very noiselessly and yet rapidly did they hurry back, and then as
quietly as possible they landed at a suitable spot. It was here decided
that three of them, with their guns, should try and get into the rear of
the camp, while Alec, who had not yet the ability to travel with the
speed and quietness here essential to success, was to take his place
just across the neck of land where, with his gun, he could command the
shore if the wolverine, disturbed by those in the rear, should attempt
to escape over the rocks in that direction. Before leaving, the leader
said to Alec:

"Do not fire until you see the whites of his eyes, and then hit him, if
possible, between them; or, if it is a side shot, strike him behind the
foreshoulders."

Alec was excited, but he soon conquered his nervousness, and prepared to
play his part as well as possible. His instructions were to wait for a
few minutes ere he began to crawl to his assigned position. He thus had
an opportunity of witnessing the cleverness and alertness of the three
Indians starting on their critical work. Making a deep detour, they
were soon out of sight in the forest, without making as much noise as
the breaking of a single twig beneath their moccasined feet. More like
phantoms they seemed, as so quietly t