HUNTING THE SNOW 



3 



If, however, the early snows are not ideal, then 

 wait until over an old crusted snow there falls a fresh 

 layer about an inch deep. This may prove even bet- 

 ter hunting, for by this time in the winter the ani- 

 mals and birds are quite used to snow-walking, and 

 besides, their stores of food are now running short, 

 compelling them to venture forth whether or not 

 they wish to go. 



It was early in December that our first hunting- 

 snow came last year. We were ready for it, waiting 

 for it, and when the winter sun broke over the ridge, 

 we started the hunt at the hen-yard gate, where we 



saw tracks in the thin, new snow 



that led us up the ridge, and along 



its narrow back, to a hollow stump. 



Here the hunt began in earnest ; 



for not until that trail of close, 



double, nail-pointed prints went 



under the stump were the four small boys convinced 



that we were tracking a skunk and not a cat. 



The creature had moved leisurely that you could 

 tell by the closeness of the prints. Wide-apart tracks 



