138 THE MOOSE 



and go-ahead minks — lying in wait with wits 

 sharpened to a deadly cunningness by winter 

 shortages, the bear decided on denning up again 

 until the spring was farther advanced. 



Back she went to the outlet of her snow bee- 

 hive, and driving the cubs before her into the 

 cavernous hole, crept after them into the aperture. 

 Her movements, stealthy though they were, dis- 

 lodged an avalanche from the roof-tree, which effec- 

 tually blocked in the little party, secure and warm 

 once more. 



Nothing but the clear track of her feet, and the 

 lesser, lighter traces of the cubs', told of the mis- 

 taken issue forth. She denned up again, deeming 

 the fictitious call another of Nature's ambuscades. 

 She had thought the sweet o' the year was at hand, 

 and lo, winter reigned sovereign still. 



The ravens, wandering on the river in search of 

 frozen-in scraps brought down from the mountains, 

 thought otherwise. They felt the ice quake and 

 quiver beneath their spreading claws, and fluttered 

 on wide wings to the banks, croaking " Cruck ! 

 Cruck /" menacingly. Then, as the pale sun shone 

 and touched the frozen surface to dim rosy gold, 

 the big birds flung themselves into the upper air 



