A SKULKING PAINTER. 81 



a little disgusted that I had seen nothing sufficiently worthy 

 of being considered fit game for the heavy missiles which 

 both my barrels contained. In fact, I could not help open- 

 ly grumbling that I should have been inveigled into such a 

 useless journey, which elicited the response from my asso- 

 ciate that I might thank my stars we had got back safe. 

 With this answer for the time I had to be satisfied ; but 

 that evening the mystery came out, and the selfish motives 

 that had dictated my companionship being sought. I will 

 endeavor to state the story as told by the trapper : 



" Last April, when the snow was on the ground, I laid out 

 the traps we have to-day lifted. The traveling was very 

 bad at the time, for it was near the break-up of winter. I 

 got along the ridge all right ; but as I thought it better to 

 return as I had <jorne, I determined to retrace my steps. I 

 had scarcely faced homeward when I found, to my surprise, 

 the print of an animal following my old track. I looked 

 in every direction to see where the follower could be, but 

 was unable to detect him. However, I knew well that the 

 skulking villain was no other than a painter (Anglic'e, 

 puma) ; and as I had only my old single-barrel loaded with 

 bird-shot, I became justly scared. All of a tremble, I con- 

 tinued my course, and you may bet I made tracks. The 

 very evidence of the brute following me showed he was 

 after no good, and I was right ; for as I drew near the out- 

 side edge of the swamp I saw him right ahead ; but I went 

 out of the way to avoid him ; and after I left the wood I 

 heard him howl, doubtless in anger because he had missed 

 making supper off me." 



At the time I could not help thinking that my host had 

 been needlessly alarmed, and told him so, when he inform- 

 ed me that nothing would have induced him to return alone 

 in fact, that he would sooner have lost his traps than do 



so ; that a painter in those regions, more especially in win- 



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