THE APPROACH OF WINTER 31 



though I could not have distinguished them with cer- 

 tainty from those of a fox or some other animal. But 

 the general opinion was that there were not yet many 

 wolves about here. 



The selecting of suitable spots and setting the traps 

 occupied a great part of the day, and we returned to our 

 temporary hut to partake of the evening meal, having 

 had nothing to eat during the time we were at work. 

 On the way back my friends knocked over several hares 

 with sticks and stones, and these were stewed, or rather 

 boiled, for supper, and eaten up to the last mouthful. 



During our absence the foxes had paid our halting- 

 place a visit, and wandered all around it. Fortunately 

 such a visit had been anticipated, and every article 

 eatable, or made of leather, hung on the branches of 

 trees out of their reach ; for these little wretches, and 

 wolves, are so exceedingly voracious that they will tear 

 to pieces and eat a pair of boots, or a belt, in a surpris- 

 ingly few minutes. It is not safe to leave anything of 

 the kind, or any sort of food, within their reach. 



I could have shot several foxes, but my companions 

 begged me not to fire any more, saying that the shot 

 would injure the pelt and make it valueless. The real 

 reason was fear of frightening away the wolves; for it 

 is a fact that these creatures soon learn to fear the 

 report of a gun, and a few shots fired within their hear- 

 ing will often drive them quite out of a neighbourhood. 

 The skins of wolves are of much more value than those 

 of the common sorts of foxes. 



The second night spent in the forest I slept " like a 

 top," being completely worn out; but I was aroused by 

 my companions at dawn to partake of breakfast, which 

 they had prepared before disturbing me. They were hi 

 a hurry to visit the traps to see if anything had been 

 taken during the night, at which time the animals, and 

 wolves especially, prowl about more than during daylight. 

 Only one of the traps had an occupant a poor little red 



