128 MOOSWA 



way down, got into an altercation about a good 

 seat that each claimed. 



&quot; Keep it, then, Glutton ! &quot; whined Sakwasew, 

 starting across the chute. As he did so, Skunk 

 got away rather prematurely, coming down with 

 the speed of a snow-slide off a roof. He struck 

 Mink full amidship, and thinking it was a diaboli 

 cal trick on the part of the others, developed an 

 angry odour that would have put a Lyddite shell 

 to shame. 



A wild scramble took place. 



&quot; Fat Hens ! &quot; shrieked Black King, as he fled 

 through the Forest, his long brush trailing in the 

 snow. 



&quot; I m choking ! &quot; screamed Carcajou. &quot; By 

 the power of all Forest Smells, was there ever 

 such a disgraceful Chap on the face of the Earth ; &quot; 

 and he scurried away with his short legs, just for 

 all the world like a Bear Cub. 



Fisher climbed a tree in hot haste, as did 

 Marten. Mink dove in the Otter s hole and 

 disappeared ; but with him he carried the evil 

 thing, for he was full of the blue halo that vi 

 brated from his skunk-smirched coat. &quot; I shall 

 never be able to go home any more,&quot; he moaned ; 

 &quot; my relatives will kill me.&quot; 



Even Jay clasped one claw over his nose and 

 flew wildly through the forest, almost knocking 



