WOODS MEDICINE 138 



I was nearly home when, through the muffle of 

 the darkening woods, I heard the quick bang ! bang ! 

 of Will's gun. 



Yes, he got him, a fine red fox. And speaking to 

 me about it one day, he said, 



" There 's a lot more to sittin' still than most folks 

 thinks. The trouble is, most folks in the woods can't 

 stand the monopoly of it." 



Will's English needs touching up in spots ; but 

 he can show the professors a great many things 

 about the ways of the woods. 



And now what does the doctor mean by " No 

 dreaming or thumb-twiddling" in the woods? Just 

 this : that not only must you be silent and motionless 

 for hours at a time, but you must also be alert 

 watchful, keen, ready to take a hint, to question, 

 guess, and interpret. The fields and woods are not 

 full of life, but full only of the sounds, shadows, and 

 signs of life. 



You are atop of your stump, when over the ridge 

 you hear a slow, quiet rustle in the dead leaves a 

 skunk ; then a slow, loud rustle a turtle ; then a 

 quick, loud one-two-tliree rustle a chewink; 

 then a tiny, rapid rustle a mouse ; then a long, 

 rasping rustle a snake ; then a measured, gallop- 

 ing rustle a squirrel; then a light-heavy, hop-thump 

 rustle a rabbit; then and not once have you 

 seen the rustlers in the leaves beyond the ridge; and 

 not once have you stirred from your stump. 



