AN ENRAGED TRAPPER. 99 



The rage of the old hunter knew no bounds as he 

 surveyed the mischief wrought by the sagacious and 

 sneaking carcajou, and deep were the threats he uttered 

 against the marauding scoundrel. 



"Ef I hev to stay hyur till winter," he exclaimed, 

 " I'll trap that varmint. I'll make him smell thunder, 

 or my name's not Jake Hawken. Ye-es! he'll find 

 old Jake's not a snag to run agin' that away. See ef 

 he don't ! " 



While the incensed trapper gave utterance to these 

 threats, he was busily engaged in cutting out the 

 tongue (the point of which had been bitten off, having 

 protruded beyond the jaws), and sundry other choice 

 bits, which he secured together and slung from his rifle 

 barrel. 



Leaving the remainder of the carcass to the wolves, 

 Gaultier and his companion retraced their steps to the 

 canoe. It was Jake's intention to return later in order 

 to rig up a trap near the bison, in which he hoped 

 against hope to catch the wary wolverine. 



With this view the old trapper during the afternoon 

 again left camp. At his own request neither of the 

 youths accompanied him, as he feared the cunning car- 

 cajou would be likely to take alarm at finding so many 

 tracks in the neighbourhood of the trap. The wolverine 

 has no objection to the trail of a solitary hunter, which, 

 indeed, he actually follows with extraordinary persever- 

 ance ; tearing open the traps which have been set for 

 the marten or fisher, and either devouring them if 



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