Upweekis the Shadow. 1 1 7 



bushes came a young lynx to join in the chase. He 

 missed the marten on the ground, but sprang to my 

 tree like a flash. I remember still that the only sound 

 I was conscious of at the time was the ripping of his 

 nails in the dead bark. He had been seeking my bait 

 undoubtedly — for it was a good lynx country, and 

 Upweekis loves fish Hke a cat — when the chase passed 

 under his nose and he joined it on the instant. 



Halfway up the incline the marten smelled me, or 

 was terrified by the noise behind him and leaped aside. 

 A branch upon which I was leaning swayed or 

 snapped, and the lucivee stopped as if struck, crouch- 

 ing lower and lower against the tree, his big yellow 

 expressionless eyes glaring straight into mine. A 

 moment only he stood the steady look ; then his eyes 

 wavered; he turned his head, leaped for the under- 

 brush, and was gone. 



Another moment and Meeko the squirrel had for- 

 gotten his fright and peril and everything else save his 

 curiosity to find out who I was and all about me. He 

 had to pass quite close to me to get to another tree, 

 but anything was better than going back where the 

 marten might be waiting; so he was presently over 

 my head, snickering and barking to make me move, 

 and scolding me soundly for disturbing the peace of 

 the woods. 



