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snow and leaves。 The log was about three inches from the ground；
and before the porcupine could realize it； the fisher had a
space cleared and seized the spiny one by its soft； unspiny nose。
Grunting and squealing it pulled back and lashed its terrible
tail。 To what effect？ Merely to fill the log around with quills。
With all its strength the quill…pig pulled and writhed； but the
fisher was stronger。 His claws enlarged the hole and when the
victim ceased from exhaustion； the fisher made a forward dash and
changed his hold from the tender nose to the still more tender
throat of the porcupine。 His hold was not deep enough and square
enough to seize the windpipe； but he held on。 For a minute or
two the struggles of Kahk were of desperate energy and its
lashing tail began to be short of spines； but a red stream
trickling from the wound was sapping its strength。 Protected by
the log； the fisher had but to hold on and play a waiting game。
The heaving and backward pulling of Kahk were very feeble at
length； the fisher had nearly finished the fight。 But he was
impatient of further delay and backing out of the hole he mounted
the log； displaying a much scratched nose； then reaching down
with deft paw； near the quill…pig's shoulder； he gave a sudden
jerk that threw the former over on its back； and before it could
recover； the fisher's jaws closed on its ribs； and crushed and
tore。 The nerveless； almost quilless tail could not harm him
there。 The red blood flowed and the porcupine lay still。 Again
and again as he uttered chesty growls the pekan ground his teeth
into the warm flesh and shook and worried the unconquerable one
he had conquered。 He was licking his bloody chops for the
twentieth time； gloating in gore； when 〃crack〃 went Quonab's gun；
and the pekan had an opportunity of resuming the combat with
Kahk far away in the Happy Hunting。
〃Yap； yap； yap！〃 and in rushed Skookum； dragging the end of
Rolf's sash which he had gnawed through in his determination to
be in the fight； no matter what it cost； and it was entirely due
to the fact that the porcupine was belly up； that Skookum did not
have another hospital experience。
This was Rolf's first sight of a fisher； and he examined it as
one does any animal or man that one has so long heard
described in superlative terms that it has become idealized into
a semi…myth。 This was the desperado of the woods； the weird
black cat that feared no living thing。 This was the only one that
could fight and win against Kahk。
They made a fire at once； and while Rolf got the mid…day meal of
tea and venison； Quonab skinned the fisher。 Then he cut out its
heart and liver。 When these were cooked he gave the first to
Rolf and the second to Skookum； saying to the one； 〃I give you a
pekan heart；〃 and to the dog； 〃That will force all of the quills
out of you if you play the fool again； as I think you will。〃
In the skin of the fisher's neck and tail they found several
quills； some of them new； some of them dating evidently from
another fight of the same kind； but none of them had done any
damage。 There was no inflammation or sign of poisoning。 〃It is
ever so；〃 said Quonab； 〃the quills cannot hurt him。〃 Then；
turning to the porcupine； he remarked； as he prepared to skin it：
〃Ho； Kahk！ you see now it was a big mistake you did not let Nana
Bojou sit on the dry end of that log。〃
Chapter 38。 The Silver Fox
They were returning to the cabin； one day； when Quonab stopped
and pointed。 Away off on the snow of the far shore was a moving
shape to be seen。
〃Fox； and I think silver fox； he so black。 I think he lives
there。〃
〃Why？〃 〃I have seen many times a very big fox track； and they
do not go where they do not live。 Even in winter they keep their
own range。〃
〃He's worth ten martens； they say？〃 queried Rolf。
〃Ugh！ fifty。〃
〃Can't we get him？〃
〃Can try。 But the water set will not work in winter； we must try
different。〃
This was the plan； the best that Quonab could devise for the
snow： Saving the ashes from the fire （dry sand would have
answered）； he selected six open places in the woods on the south
of the lake； and in each made an ash bed on which he scattered
three or four drops of the smell…charm。 Then； twenty…five yards
from each； on the north or west side （the side of the prevailing
wind） he hung from some sapling a few feathers； a partridge wing
or tail with some red yarns to it。 He left the places unvisited
for two weeks； then returned to learn the progress of act one。
Judging from past experience of fox nature and from the few signs
that were offered by the snow； this is what had happened： A fox
came along soon after the trappers left； followed the track a
little way； came to the first opening； smelled the seductive
danger…lure； swung around it； saw the dangling feathers； took
alarm； and went off。 Another of the places had been visited by a
marten。 He had actually scratched in the ashes。 A wolf had gone
around another at a safe distance。
Another had been shunned several times by a fox or by foxes； but
they had come again and again and at last yielded to the
temptation to investigate the danger…smell； finally had rolled in
it； evidently wallowing in an abandon of delight。 So far； the
plan was working there。
The next move was to set the six strong fox traps； each
thoroughly smoked； and chained to a fifteen…pound block of wood。
Approaching the place carefully and using his blood…rubbed
glove； Quonab set in each ash pile a trap。 Under its face he put
a wad of white rabbit fur。 Next he buried all in the ashes；
scattered a few bits of rabbit and a few drops of smell…charm；
then dashed snow over the place； renewed the dangling feathers to
lure the eye； and finally left the rest to the weather。
Rolf was keen to go the next day； but the old man said： 〃Wah！ no
good！ no trap go first night； man smell too strong。〃 The second
day there was a snowfall； and the third morning Quonab said； 〃Now
seem like good time。〃
The first trap was untouched； but there was clearly the track of
a large fox within ten yards of it。
The second was gone。 Quonab said； with surprise in his voice；
〃Deer！〃 Yes； truly； there was the record。 A deer a big one
had come wandering past； his keen nose soon apprised him of a
strong； queer appeal near by。 He had gone unsuspiciously toward
it； sniffed and pawed the unaccountable and exciting nose
medicine； then 〃snap！〃 and he had sprung a dozen feet； with that
diabolic smell…thing hanging to his foot。 Hop； hop； hop； the
terrified deer had gone into a slashing windfall。 Then the drag
had caught on the logs； and； thanks to the hard and taper hoofs；
the trap had slipped off and been left behind； while the deer had
sought safer regions。
In the next trap they found a beautiful marten dead； killed at
once by the clutch of steel。 The last