GREY LYNX'S LAST HUNTING 29 



entirely in the madness of his efforts to escape. 

 For a moment the female shrank back, with 

 flattened ears and narrowed eyes, frightened 

 and bewildered. Then, seeming to imagine 

 that there was some treachery to herself in 

 this dreadful and inexplicable performance, 

 she drew nearer, with a menacing growl. The 

 next instant, as if quite beside herself at the 

 sight of such contortions, she gave vent to a 

 mad screech and flung herself at Grey Lynx's 

 throat. 



In a moment the two became, as it were, 

 one ball of clinging, tearing, screeching fur 

 and claws. They rolled over and over in the 

 snow, the heavy trap striking them both 

 impartially, the chain now entangling them, 

 now flying loose with a sharp jangle. Blood 

 spattered in every direction, amid spurts of 

 snow and flecks of torn fur. But Grey Lynx, 

 hampered by trap and chain, and weakened 

 alike by terror of the unknown and horror 

 at the incomprehensible fury of his mate, was 

 overmatched from the first. In a few minutes 

 the tense ball seemed to loosen. The mania- 

 cal uproar ceased to affront the night, dimin- 

 ishing to a panting growl. Grey Lynx's 

 body straightened out. The female con- 

 tinued to worry it for a few moments. Then, 

 as if suddenly coming to her senses, she 



