after him, would disgorge some of what he 

 already carried rather than take more to 

 make him heavy. Indeed, after a kill and 

 a full meal, Pequam, when no enemy is near, 

 usually lies quiet for days at a time, drow- 

 sing away in his hollow log. A certain blind 

 ferocity might perhaps account for his kill- 

 ing the deer; but that leaves his r^3 

 subsequent carelessness unaccounted 

 for. And besides, unlike their smaller 

 and more bloodthirsty kinsman the 

 weasel, neither fisher nor marten 

 seem to kill for the lust of killing. They 

 kill only when hungry, and usually go back 

 to any large game until it is eaten up to the 

 very bones before they hunt or kill again. 



All this passed through my mind rapidly, 

 and the Indian, in answer to my inquiries, 

 confirmed my idea of the fisher's ordinary 

 habits. Then I put the final question: 



"Why on earth, then, did Pequam kill £ 

 another deer? " 



"Wy he kill um dat tother deer? Cause 

 he tink Injun hongry, das wy he kill um." 

 And then, as my eyes questioned his in the 



2 5i 



7?>e7?a//ofMe 

 Cunning One 



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