can catch them. The wolverine, is
the most savage animal we've got, and as cunning as a fox. They can
climb trees, and spring down on their prey. I've known a man try to
catch one, and very nearly got caught himself. The racoon is a curious
critter, with the body of a fox, the head of a dog, and a round, bushy
tail. The hind legs are longer than the fore, and both are armed with
sharp claws. They live in trees, and leap nimbly from branch to branch.
We shoot them sitting on branches, or popping their heads out of some
old hollow stump. Then there's the lynx, and the otter, beaver,
musk-rat, ground-hog, woodchuck, flying squirrel, skunk, marten, mink,
fisher, hedgehog, and many others. Most of them are eatable, and the
skins of all of them sell for a good deal of money. We have no lack of
birds either: wild turkeys, and geese, and ducks, and pigeons, which fly
in flocks so thick as to darken the air. A man with a good gun, and who
knows how to set traps, need never starve in this country. Not but what
I say a settler's life is the best for most people. I took to the woods
when I was young, and now I am old I have no wife or children to care
for me, and that's not the fate I would wish for any of you young
people." The old man sighed deeply as he finished speaking. Still Rob
was so interested with the accounts of the old trapper's adventures,
that he begged he would let him go with him some time into the woods to
hunt. Old Marks readily promised to take Rob with him. They travelled
on cheerily, talking on these subjects, though the snow fell so thickly
that at last it became heavy work to walk through it. They had to camp
out three nights, so little way did they make. Still they did not mind
that, as they had plenty to eat, and old Marks told them no end of
amusing stories.

At last they reached the town where Susan was at service. She was
expecting them, and all ready to start. When, however, her mistress,
Mrs Mason, heard that she intended walking, she would not let her go.
She said that it was not fit for a young girl who was delicate, and that
she must wait till she could get a lift in a sleigh going that way. Rob
said that he would not wait, as he ought to be back again to help his
father. Still the good lady would not give in.

STORY THREE, CHAPTER 5.

At last they reached the town where Susan was at service. She was
expecting them, and all ready to start. When, however, her mistress,