388 The Book of Woodcraft 



marks of pause and pose, showed how the scent was 

 warming — how well the fox knew some good thing 

 was near. 



At F he stood still for some time with both feet set down 

 in the snow, so it was written. Now was the critical 

 time, and straight up the redolent wind he went, following 

 his nose, cautiously and silently as possible, reaHzing 

 that now a single heedless step might spoil the hunt. 



CLOSING IN 



At G were the deeply imprinted marks of both hind 

 feet, showing where the fox sprang just at the moment 

 when, from the spotless snowdrift just ahead, there broke 

 out two grouse that had been slumbering below. Away 

 they went with a whirr, whirr, fast as wing could bear 

 them; but one was just a foot too slow; the springing fox 

 secured him in the air. At H he landed with him on the 

 prairie, and had a meal that is a fox's ideal in time of 

 plenty; and now, in deep hard winter, it must have been 

 a banquet of delight. 



Now for the first time I saw the meaning of* the dead 

 garter-snake far back on the trail. Snake at no time 

 is nice eating, and cold snake on a cold day must be a mighty 

 cold meal. Clearly the fox thought so. He would rather 

 take a chance of getting something better. He killed 

 the snake; so it could not get away. It was not likely 

 any one would steal from him that unfragrant carcass, 

 so he would come back and get it later if he must. 



But as we see, he did not have to do so. His faith and 

 patience were amply justified. Instead of a cold, unpleasant 

 snake, he fed on a fine hot bird. 



Thus I got a long, autobiographical chapter of fox-life by 

 simply following his tracks through the snow (see heading) . 



