188 FOUR-FOOTEB AMERICANS 



How it manages to kill that I never could see, though 

 I found quills stuck all over a Fisher inside and out." 



'' People who know, say the Fisher has the knack of 

 killing the Porcupine by biting him in the stomach, 

 where he is poorly protected," said the Doctor. ''I 

 think he is quite clever enough to do this, for he man- 

 ages to take the bait out of almost any trap, as you and 

 Olaf must know by experience, and hides his nest high 

 up in a tree hollow as Avisely as an owl." 



•' For stealin' bait and traps, or makin' a general 

 rumpus, I recommend the Wolf Martin ! " said Nez, 

 witli feeling. 



" I suppose you mean the AVolverine, or Glutton, 

 names he gets for his fierceness and supposed endless 

 appetite," said the Doctor. 



" That's he every time," said Nez, striking his fist 

 on his knee. " If yer can pack more wickedness and 

 real thinkin' mischief into a beast not over tliree feet 

 long, with paws and claws like a Bear, and a face like 

 a Bear, a Fox, and a AVolf all mixed into one, show me 

 that beast ! " 



" What kind of fur does he wear ? " asked Nat. 



" Brown, of as many different sliades as the mottles 

 on a horse-chestnut," said the Doctor ; " the under-fur 

 being short and very soft, and the outer about four 

 inches long, wiry and shaggy. The soles of his feet 

 even are so hairy that the footprints look almost like 

 those of small Bears." 



'' Why do you call liim such a wicked beast, Nez ? " 

 asked Rap. 



" Well, I reckon Fve good reason. In the first place 

 he kills anything that comes along, from a mouse up 



