THE FOX 59 



silver quarters he would receive for his first fox- 

 skin. With the utmost care, and with a palpi- 

 tating heart, he removed enough of the trodden 

 snow to allow the trap to sink below the surface. 

 Then, carefully sifting the light element over it 

 and sweeping his tracks full, he quickly with- 

 drew, laughing exultingly over the little surprise 

 he had prepared for the cunning rogue. The 

 elements conspired to aid him, and the falling 

 snow rapidly obliterated all vestiges of his work. 

 The next morning at dawn he was on his way to 

 bring in his fur. The snow had done its work 

 effectually, and, he believed, had kept his secret 

 well. Arrived in sight of the locality, he strained 

 his vision to make out his prize lodged against 

 the fence at the foot of the hill. Approaching 

 nearer, the surface was unbroken, and doubt 

 usurped the place of certainty in his mind. A 

 slight mound marked the site of the porker, but 

 there was no footprint near it. Looking up the 

 hill, he saw where Reynard had walked leisurely 

 down toward his wonted bacon till within a few 

 yards of it, when he had wheeled, and with pro- 

 digious strides disappeared in the woods. The 

 young trapper saw at a glance what a comment 

 this was upon his skill in the art, and, indig- 

 nantly exhuming the iron, he walked home with 

 it, the stream of silver quarters suddenly setting 

 in another direction. 



