Other trappers have followed Bige's trail 

 through the woods and have taken their 

 toll of the inhabitants. But I am confi- 

 dent that if a census were taken today, it 

 would be found that in population Musk- 

 rat City is holding its own quite equal to 

 some of the cities in Iowa. 



Doubtless it is a wise provision of Na- 

 ture that those animals, birds and fishes 

 which are most killed and eaten by others 

 are made most prolific. Such thinning of 

 their ranks may be necessary to avert 

 famine, disease or some worse disaster 

 among them. In view of their many pred- 

 atory enemies, not forgetting the human 

 killer of fish, it is marvelous that any 

 trout of legal size are found in a brook. 



Noises of the forest night are always 

 interesting. While the camp fire burns, 

 the forest people in its immediate vicinity 

 are generally quiet. The fire is an un- 

 usual experience for them. It attracts 

 them. They are fascinated by it, as are 

 small boys by a circus, and while it burns 

 they are likely to suspend their usual oc- 



51 



