io6 MOOSWA 



&quot; I might have put my foot in that when I came 

 to visit the Widow.&quot; 



And so all day the conspirators followed Fran- 

 9ois and The Boy, undoing their work. 



To Muskwa s horror, near the nest he had 

 prepared for his long Winters rest they found a 

 huge Bear Trap. At sight of its yawning jaws 

 drops of perspiration dripped from Bruin s tongue. 

 &quot; Sweet Sleep ! what should I do if I were to put 

 a leg in that awful thing it would crack the 

 bone, I believe. Who in the name of Forest 

 Fools told Franois where my house was ? &quot; 



&quot; Whisky-Jack, likely,&quot; snapped Carcajou, ma 

 lignantly. 



&quot; Not I,&quot; declared Jay &quot;I swear it ! I keep 

 the Law. What evil I ve got to say of any one, 

 I say to his face ; I m no traitor. You re a 

 thief, Carcajou your ears were cut off for steal 

 ing ! Your head s as smooth as a Bird s egg, and 

 you re a quarrelsome Blackguard but did I 

 ever accuse you of betraying our Comrades ? &quot; 



&quot; Never mind, Sweet Singer,&quot; answered Wol 

 verine, apologetically, &quot; I did n t mean it. No 

 body told Francois ; it was your own big feet, 

 Muskwa. If you weren t half asleep you d 

 know that you left a trail like the passing of 

 Train Dogs.&quot; 



&quot; How shall we spring the Trap ? &quot; asked Bear. 



