THE BUILDING OF THE SHACK 81 



&quot; I think the stove is a good thing,&quot; decided 

 Black King. &quot; The Man-fire is in a Trap.&quot; 



&quot; Yes, the Fire-trap is a good thing,&quot; con 

 curred his Mother, &quot; if we wish to save the 

 Birds.&quot; 



&quot; And the Rabbits ! &quot; added Lynx. 



&quot; And the Berries ! &quot; grunted Muskwa. 



&quot; The purple Moose-weed grows after fire has 

 eaten the Forest/ mused Mooswa ; &quot; and if it 

 glows hot and red on one river bank I swim to 

 the other.&quot; 



&quot; It s all right for you, Long-legs, Pudding- 

 nose, Bob-tail,&quot; gibed Whisky-Jack; &quot;but the 

 Law of the Boundaries is for the good of all, and 

 this Fire-trap is a fine thing. I hate to have hot 

 coals falling on my feathers, when the Forest is 

 on fire.&quot; 



The smoke curled lazily riverward, away from 

 the animals. Suddenly it veered about and the 

 pungent perfume of burning Birch-bark came 

 toward them. 



Mooswa straightened his massive head, spread 

 the nostrils of his great cushion-shaped nose, 

 cocked his thick ears forward intently, and dis 

 criminated between the different scents that came 

 floating on the sleepy morning air. 



&quot;The fire breath Wh-e-e !&quot; It tickled a 

 cough in his throat. &quot; The odour of the Half- 



