ever witnessed, and every time the trap rattled
on the head or body of the wild cat the old man fairly quivered with
excitement and delight. To Frank the sight was also the oddest and
queerest he had ever even heard of. At one skillful parry the fox,
although so terribly handicapped, was able to give the cat a whack that
sent him fairly sprawling in the snow. At the sight of this Frank had
to crowd his fur mitten into his mouth to prevent him from fairly
shouting out:

"Well done, old fox!"

Why they remained so in this one open place, Frank now saw, was because
the fox was fearful that if he got in among the fallen logs or the rocks
the wild cat would have the advantage, and thus succeed in springing
upon his back, while he, so hampered, could make but little resistance.
All at once Frank saw the animals cease both the attack and their
noises. Memotas, quick and alert, suddenly brought his gun into
position, and the next instant, as Frank heard the jingling of distant
bells, there also rang out the report of the gun, and the wild cat
tumbled over dead.

Springing up, Memotas called Frank to follow, and together they quickly
hurried after the fox, that was now again desperately striving to get
away.

Memotas did not wish to injure the valuable skin by piercing it with a
ball, and so, picking up a heavy clublike branch of a tree, he quickly
killed the fox without breaking the skin.

A few minutes after Alec drove up along the trail. He had visited his
traps and snares, and had decided to take this trail on his way home.
His bells were the ones heard by the two fighters. Well was it that
Memotas's quick ears also heard them, and that he was able to fire
before the wild cat had fled into the forest.

They were soon all on their way home again. The fox was a great beauty,
and although it was a cross, yet it was so nearly black that a large sum
was given for it.

For many a day after Frank talked and laughed about that oddest of all
fights, the one between the trapped fox and the fierce old wild cat.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE WINTER BIRDS OF THE GREAT LONE LAND--THE WHISKY JACK--THE
PTARMIGAN--THEIR BEDS IN THE SNOW--MISSION VISITS--CUPID'S DARTS--THE
WOOD SUPPLY--PRIMITIVE WAY OF CAPTURING PARTRIDGES--GREAT SNOWY OWLS--
METHODS OF CAPTURE--SAM'S EXPERIENCE--THE FEARFUL GRIP OF THE OWL'S
CLAW.

"Where are your singing birds?" said Sam one morning as he came in from
having taken Wenonah and Roderick out for