332 KEEPING WATCH FOB A THIEF. 



himself to the bait, without leavin' his hide as a considera- 

 tion for settin' of 'em. After a few days, I found that what- 

 ever it was, understood the line as well as I did, for he took 

 the range regular, and not only stole the bait, but ate up 

 half a dozen martin, that had given me a claim on their 

 hides by springin' my traps. This was a kind of medlin' 

 with my private concerns that I didn't like, and I was bound 

 to find out who the interloper was, and if possible, to make 

 his acquaintance. There was no snow on the ground, and I 

 could't get at his track. So I made up my mind to watch 

 for him. Well, one day I spoke to Crop to stay by the shanty 

 and take care of the things, while I went to find out who it 

 was that was medlin' with our property, and started off on 

 my line of traps. I got up into the crotch of a great birch 

 near one of 'em, and sat there with my rifle, waitin' for 

 something to turn up. It was a little after noon when I got 

 located. The sun travelled slowly along down towards the 

 western hills, his bright light, in that calm November day, 

 makin' the rocky ranges and the bare heads of the tall 

 peaks shine out in a blaze of glory. The livin' things of the 

 old woods were busy and jolly enough. An old owl came 

 flying lazily out of the thick branches of a hemlock, and 

 lightin' within a dozen feet of me, opened his great round 

 eyes in astonishment, and as the bright sunlight dazzled 

 ' him, he squinted and turned his cat-like face from side to 

 side, as if^ makin' up his mind that he'd know me the next 

 time we met. By-and-by he opened his hooked beak, and 

 great red mouth, and roared out, ' Hoo ! hohoo ! hoo !' as 



