20 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



which led in towards the trunk of the hem- 

 lock. His mate, meanwhile, drew near and 

 watched enviously. A moment more and 

 his head emerged amid a swirl of fluttering 

 wings and flying snow. In his jaws he held 

 a big cock grouse. The unhappy bird had 

 buried himself in the snow for the night, that 

 he might sleep more warmly than on his roost 

 among the branches. For a second more his 

 strong wings flapped spasmodically, then 

 Grey Lynx crunched the life out of him and 

 fell to his meal. 



The ill-humdured female crept nearer, 

 crouching with a conciliatory air. But Grey 

 Lynx was not of a gallant or chivalrous tribe, 

 and a single cock grouse is not half a meal 

 for a starving lynx. With a strident snarl 

 he thrust out one great paw in warning. The 

 female stopped, licked her lips hungrily, then 

 turned like lightning and ran up a neighbour- 

 ing fir-tree. Her ears had caught the sound 

 of a startled twitter which had answered Grey 

 Lynx's snarl. There were snow-buntings rest- 

 ing in that tree. Her iron claws, however, 

 clutching at the bark, announced her coming, 

 and for all her speed the birds escaped her, 

 hopping up with terrified outcry to the top- 

 most slender branches, where she could not 

 go. Smarting with disappointment, she de- 



