THE VALUE OF THEIR FUR 43 



Jack ; &quot; but what do I steal ? True, I took the 

 piece of soap thinking it was butter ; but that was 

 a trifle, not the size of a Trap Bait ; and if I take 

 the Meat out of their Traps I do so that my 

 Comrades may not be caught ? &quot; 



&quot; It is written in the Law of the Forest that is 

 not stealing,&quot; said Black King, solemnly. &quot; The 

 Bait that is put in the Trap is for those of the 

 Forest, so come it they be not caught ; and even 

 though the Trappers say otherwise, there is no 

 wrong in taking it.&quot; 



&quot; I also take the Bait-meat,&quot; cried Wolverine, 

 &quot; for the good of my Brothers ; but I spring the 

 Trap too, lest by accident they put their foot 



in it.&quot; 



&quot; I also know Nichemous,&quot; broke in Umisk, 

 the Beaver. &quot; He cut a hole in the roof of my 

 house one day, first blocking up the front door 

 thinking we were inside, and meaning to catch 

 us ; he had his trouble for nothing, for I got 

 the whole family out just in the nick of time ; 

 but I d like to make him pay for repairs to 

 the roof. I don t know any animal so bad as a 

 Man, unless it s a Hermit Beaver.&quot; 



&quot; What s a Hermit Beaver, you of the little 

 fore-feet ? &quot; asked Jay. 



Umisk sighed wearily. &quot; For a Bird that has 

 travelled as much as you have, Jack, you are 



