PLAYING 'POSSUM. 269 



obtain space to administer a coup de grace my heel 

 caught in a bush, and over I went full length on my 

 back. So thoroughly was I disconcerted at this 

 awkward turn of affairs, that I entirely neglected 

 firing, though in an instant more I knew the 

 wounded savage would be on me, and in such close 

 proximity that nothing but my knife could be 

 useful to me in such an emergency. Scarcely had 

 I time to realise the awkwardness of my position, 

 when I heard the sharp report of a small-bore rifle 

 that seldom spoke in vain, and in an instant my 

 enemy was incapable of further mischief. 



My companion* who had thus promptly, and not 

 a moment too soon, come to my aid, pronounced it 'a 

 tarnation big crittur/ and heavier than ever he had 

 seen before. Of one thing I was certain, that if the 

 length of its claws were to be taken as an index of 

 its powers of doing mischief, then I would sooner 

 fight something else with rny knife than a wolverine. 



The habitat of this animal is much restricted, 

 and even there it is scarce. With little speed of foot 

 it has to resort to stratagem to procure the food it 

 most preys upon. Cariboo are doubtless its prin- 

 cipal victims, to capture which it lies out on a 

 branch of a tree which projects over their most fre- 

 quented runs. When the reindeer passes beneath 

 the destroyer drops upon it, seizing the back of 

 the victim's neck with its teeth, and clutching to 

 the flanks with its immense talons. In vain the 

 deer seeks safety in flight, rushing through the 



