OUT-nOOR COOKERY 73 



seen a Moose come from the windward side of the 

 cabin, wliile a Fox sulked in the shade of some tirs 

 watchmg the Skunks fighting cner the scrap-pail, and 

 a Lynx crouched, grinning, on a log, taking it all in. 

 Meanwhile Avhite northern Hares and Ermines nosed 

 about dreadful careless, not knowing when they might 

 make food for Owls, and Meadow Mice squealed among 

 the logs and left their little tracks like birds' claws in 

 the snow. When they think there's nobody round, 

 beasts have their playtime, just like folks.*' 



'' Oh I " sighed Rap and Nat in chorus, " all those 

 beasts you saw are four-footed Americans ; if Ave could 

 only live in a camp and see them.'' 



^'It Avas a nice place to see the animals, but pshaAA% 

 some folks Avould find the camp smok}^ in Avinter and 

 full o' black flies in summer. Don't I remember the 

 time I shot my big Moose ? I'll tell you that story 

 some day, and about another time out in Montana how 

 your dad Avas huntin' for Sheep and met a Grizzly B'ar. 

 That is, if he don't." 



" And did 3^ou ever see a great Avhite Polar Bear, 

 or find Seals swimming on the ice ? " asked Dodo. 



"No, I never Avas so far north. There is a friend of 

 mine, a Finlander, Avho folloAvs the sea, Avho has been as 

 fur north as most men go and get back again, and lie 

 knoAvs tliose beasts and their Avays. He's comin' to 

 stop Avith me a spell tliis snowfall, and he's been fishin' 

 and keepin' a light doAvn on the shore two sunnners. 

 I thought maybe you'd met him, his name is — " 



" Olaf ! " cried the children and Olive in chorus. 



'' Want to know ! " said Xez, looking pleased, and 

 puffing vigorously at his pipe. 



