THE LYNX. 447 



rock projects almost perpendicularly above. The foot- 

 prints of the Lynx, or some other large animal, lead 

 directly to it, and above it there are no tracks. 



The veteran' s face, suffused with smiles, is benignantly 

 turned upon me. 



" There's our varmint; but how will we get there? that's 

 the question." 



The sides of the ravine are closely scanned for a scaling- 

 point, but none presents itself which will admit of speedy 

 travel. The only course left open is to attempt the ascent, 

 which appears extremely hazardous. Boulders and rocks, 

 big as the Chicago Court-house, have to be scaled, whose 

 sides tower straight up. Then, again, loose rocks of all 

 sizes present themselves, a touch only being required to 

 hurl them below. Still, having come so far for that Lynx, 

 we can not go back now, but must have him, rocks or no 

 rocks. So, strapping our rifles to our backs, we climb up 

 till we get to the most prominent obstruction, a jutting 

 ledge, which it appears almost impossible to surmount. A 

 bank of soft earth is discovered to the right of it, in which 

 our hunting-knives soon make holes for our hands and feet. 

 A tedious, risky climb brings us on the ledge above, which 

 is covered with two feet of snow, where the Lynx-track is 

 again recovered. A fissure in the rock next receives our 

 attention. 



" If there is no other entrance to this cave, we've got you, 

 old gray-back!" ejaculates the engineer, as we thrust our 

 rifles into the opening, and endeavor to pierce the gloom 

 within. The darkness is too thick, and at first nothing is 

 to be seen. Presently, however, the eye becomes accus- 

 tomed to the gloom, and a deep fissure is found which will 

 admit us both. Stooping low, we advance slowly into the 

 darkness. A match is struck, and there, huddled up on a 

 ledge of rock, are two dark bodies. The match flickers and 

 dies. Another is struck, and a pair of rifles thrust in the 

 direction of the two bodies; a pair of large, shining eyes 

 appear on each side of the sight on the business-end of the 

 rifle; two reports thunder together in the cramped quarters. 



