BLACK FOXES. 197 



detect the danger, and slunk quietly from the neigh- 

 bourhood. Hares are numerous in these forests, and 

 furnish the lynx and the foxes with their food. The 

 sharp bark of the latter was heard on every side as 

 they chased the hares through the woods. 



On arriving at a small glade, old Jake proposed that 

 the party should halt for a short time, as he believed, 

 from some indications he had noticed during the day, 

 that this neighbourhood was frequented by black foxes. 

 He hoped, when the moon rose, to lure one or two of 

 these very valuable animals within shot. 



The open space at the verge of which the trappers 

 stationed themselves measured several hundred yards 

 in length by about eighty yards in breadth. It was 

 covered with greensward, and dotted over with clumps 

 of bushes and some young and luxuriant pines. No 

 resort could be more likely for such small quadrupeds 

 as form the prey of the black fox ; and doubtless it was 

 therefore that the old trapper hoped to secure one of 

 those rare and highly-prized animals, whose skins sell 

 for their weight in gold. 



Some long grass beneath the spreading branches of a 

 large spruce afforded a convenient shelter. Throwing 

 themselves upon the ground, the party awaited the 

 rising of the moon with as much patience as they could 

 conmiand. The maniac scream of the great horned owl, 

 the yell of the lucifee (loup-cervier), and the occasional 

 ghoulish wail of the cougar, accentuated the weird 

 solemnity of the gloomy forest. 



