t unaware.
He ate no more baits in the trap-houses. Even when Le Beau lured him
with the whole carcass of a rabbit he would not touch it, nor would he
touch a rabbit frozen dead in a snare. From Le Beau's traps he took
only the living things, chiefly birds and squirrels and the big
web-footed snowshoe rabbits. And because a mink jumped at him once, and
tore open his nose, he destroyed a number of minks so utterly that
their pelts were spoiled. He found himself another windfall, but
instinct taught him now never to go to it directly, but to approach it,
and leave it, in a roundabout way.

Day and night Le Beau, the man-brute, plotted against him. He set many
poison-baits. He killed a doe, and scattered strychnine in its
entrails. He built deadfalls, and baited them with meat soaked in
boiling fat. He made himself a "blind" of spruce and cedar boughs, and
sat for long hours, watching with his rifle. And still Miki was the
victor.

One day Miki found a huge fisher-cat in one of the traps. He had not
forgotten the battle of long ago with Oochak, the other fisher-cat, or
the whipping he had received. But there was no thought of vengeance in
his heart on the early evening he became acquainted with Oochak the
Second. Usually he was in his windfall at dusk, but this afternoon a
great and devouring loneliness had held him on the trail. The spirit of
Kuskayetum--the hand of the mating-god--was pressing heavily upon him;
the consuming desire of flesh and blood for the companionship of other
flesh and blood. It burned in his veins like a fever. It took away from
him all thought of hunger or of the hunt. In his soul was a vast,
unfilled yearning.

It was then that he came upon Oochak. Perhaps it was the same Oochak of
months ago. If so, he had grown even as Miki had grown. He was
splendid, with his long silken fur and his sleek body, and he was not
struggling, but sat awaiting his fate without excitement. To Miki he
looked warm and soft and comfortable. It made him think of Neewa, and
the hundred and one nights they had slept together. His desire leapt
out to Oochak. He whined softly as he advanced. He would make friends.
Even with Oochak, his old enemy, he would lie down in peace and
happiness, so great was the gnawing emptiness in his heart.

Oochak made no response, nor did he move, but sat furred up like a huge
soft ball, watching Miki as he crept nearer on his belly. Something of
the old puppishness came back into the dog.