THE COMING OF THE TRAIN DOGS 



FOR three days nothing unusual happened. 

 Hunger commenced to nip at every one, 

 for, as we know, it was the Seventh Year of the 

 Rabbit cycle, and they were scarce. All the 

 others envied old Muskwa, slumbering peace 

 fully, nourished by the fat of his Summers 

 pillage. 



The narrow body of Lynx was getting nar 

 rower, the gaunt sides of Blue Wolf gaunter. 

 Fisher and Marten were living on Deer Mice, 

 Squirrels, and small game ; and the Red Wid 

 ow s family were depending almost entirely upon 

 Spruce Partridge the flesh of these birds had 

 become particularly astringent, too. The gray- 

 mottled, pin-tail Grouse had entirely disappeared 

 better eating they were, the Widow contended ; 

 but in the Seventh Year it was not a matter of 

 selection at all, and each Animal was poaching on 

 the other s preserve all because of the scarcity 

 of Wapoos. But in spite of the general starva 

 tion, every one left a small dole of his food for 



