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at hand。 It always is warning of something doing； and no wise
hunter ignores it。
Rolf stood for a moment listening and peering。 He thought he
heard a scraping sound； then again the bluejay； but the former
ceased and the jay…note died in the distance。 He crept
cautiously on again for a few minutes； another opening appeared。
He studied this from a hiding place； then far across he saw a
little flash near the ground。 His heart gave a jump； he studied
the place； saw again the flash and then made out the head of a
deer； a doe that was lying in the long grass。 The flash was made
by its ear shaking off a fly。 Rolf looked to his priming； braced
himself； got fully ready； then gave a short； sharp whistle；
instantly the doe rose to her feet； then another appeared； a
sinal one； then a young buck； all stood gazing his way。
Up went the gun； but again its muzzle began to wabble。 Rolf
lowered it； said grimly and savagely to himself； 〃I will not
shake this time。〃 The deer stretched themselves and began slowly
walking toward the lake。 All had disappeared but the buck。 Rolf
gave another whistle that turned the antler…bearer to a statue。
Controlling himself with a strong 〃I will；〃 he raised the gun；
held it steadily； and fired。 The buck gave a gathering spasm； a
bound； and disappeared。 Rolf felt sick again with disgust； but
he reloaded； then hastily went forward。
There was the deep imprint showing where the buck had bounded at
the shot； but no blood。 He followed； and a dozen feet away found
the next hoof marks and on them a bright…red stain； on and
another splash； and more and shortening bounds； till one hundred
yards away … yes； there it lay； the round； gray form； quite dead；
shot through the heart。 I
Rolf gave a long； rolling war cry and got an answer from a point
that was startlingly near； and Quonab stepped from behind a tree。
〃I got him；〃 shouted Rolf。
The Indian smiled。 〃I knew you would； so I followed； last night
I knew you must have your shakes； so let you go it alone。〃
Very carefully that deer was skinned； and Rolf learned the reason
for many little modes of procedure。
After the hide was removed from the body （not the hand or legs）；
Quonab carefully cut out the…broad sheath of tendon that cover
the muscles； beginning at the hip bones on the back and extending
up to the shoulders； this is the sewing sinew。 Then he cut out
the two long fillets of meat that lie on each side of the spine
outside （the loin） and the two smaller ones inside （the
tenderloin）。
These； with the four quarters； the heart； and the kidneys； were
put into the hide。 The entrails； head； neck； legs； feet； he left
for the foxes； but the hip bone or sacrum he hung in a tree with
three little red yarns from them； so that the Great Spirit would
be pleased and send good hunting。 Then addressing the head he
said： 〃Little brother； forgive us。 We are sorry to kill you。
Behold！ we give you the honour of red streamers。〃 Then bearing
the rest they tramped back to camp。
The meat wrapped in sacks to keep off the flies was hung in the
shade； but the hide he buried in the warm mud of a swamp hole；
and three days later； when the hair began to slip； he scraped it
clean。 A broad ash wood hoop he had made ready and when the
green rawhide was strained on it again the Indian had an Indian
drum。
It was not truly dry for two or three days and as it tightened on
its frame it gave forth little sounds of click and shrinkage that
told of the strain the tensioned rawhide made。 Quonab tried it
that night as he sat by the fire softly singing：
〃Ho da ho…he da he。〃
But the next day before sunrise he climbed the hill and sitting
on the sun…up rock he hailed the Day God with the invocation； as
he had not sung it since the day they left the great rock above
the Asalnuk； and followed with the song：
〃Father； we thank thee； We have found the good hunting。 There is
meat in the wigwam。〃
Chapter 22。 The Line of Traps
Now that they had the cabin for winter； and food for the present；
they must set about the serious business of trapping and lay a
line of deadfalls for use in the coming cold weather。 They were
a little ahead of time； but it was very desirable to get their
lines blazed through the woods in all proposed directions in case
of any other trapper coming in。 Most fur…bearing animals are to
be found along the little valleys of the stream： beaver； otter；
mink； muskrat； coon； are examples。 Those that do not actually
live by the water seek these places because of their sheltered
character and because their prey lives there； of this class are
the lynx； fox； fisher； and marten that feed on rabbits and mice。
Therefore a line of traps is usually along some valley and over
the divide and down some other valley back to the point of
beginning。
So； late in September； Rolf and Quonab； with their bedding； a
pot； food for four days； and two axes； alternately followed and
led by Skookum； set out along a stream that entered the lake near
their cabin。 A quarter mile up they built their first deadfall
for martens。 It took them one hour and was left unset。 The
place was under a huge tree on a neck of land around which the
stream made a loop。 This tree they blazed on three sides。 Two
hundred yards up another good spot was found and a deadfall made。
At one place across a neck of land was a narrow trail evidently
worn by otters。 〃Good place for steel trap； bime…by；〃 was
Quonab's remark。
From time to time they disturbed deer； and in a muddy place where
a deer path crossed the creek； they found； among the numerous
small hoof prints； the track of wolves； bears； and a mountain
lion； or panther。 At these little Skookum sniffed fearsomely；
and showed by his bristly mane that he was at least much
impressed。
After five hours' travel and work they came to another stream
joining on； and near the angle of the two little valleys they
found a small tree that was chewed and scratched in a remarkable
manner for three to six feet up。 〃Bear tree；〃 said Quonab； and by
degrees Rolf got the facts about it。
The bears； and indeed most animals； have a way of marking the
range that they consider their own。 Usually this is done by
leaving their personal odour at various points； covering the
country claimed； but in some cases visible marks are added。 Thus
the beaver leaves a little dab of mud； the wolf scratches with
his hind feet； and the bear tears the signal tree with tooth and
claw。 Since this is done from time to time； when the bear
happens to be near the tree； it is kept fresh as long as the
region is claimed。 But it is especially done in midsummer when
the bears are pairing； and helps them to find suitable
companions； nor all are then roaming the woods seeking mates； all
call and leave their mark on the sign post； so the next bear；
thanks to his exquisite nose； can tel