122 ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS 
trap had got her by one toe only. With a snarl 
and a lunge, she tore herself free, and diving into 
the thick bushes, snarling with pain and anger, 
began indignantly to lick the bleeding stub of 
her amputated toe and claw. The brother, cuffed 
away at first, now reaped the reward of meekness, 
and ate the fish in safety. But the other two cats, 
each caught fast in a trap, were howling and 
plunging, trying to wrench themselves free by 
main strength. The log drags, to which the traps 
were fastened, were pulled about, till they caught 
in the bushes and held fast. The snow was 
churned up. The lonely forest resounded to 
their cries. But all their efforts availed them 
nothing. Their heartless brother sneaked around 
and ate their fish, too. 
The next morning Lucy, nursing her wounded 
paw in the den, heard two gunshots not far away, 
and pushed deeper into the shadows, snarling at 
her brother. There were no sounds from the 
trapped sisters after that. But presently there 
was the smell of fish again. The brother, re- 
membering only his feast of yesterday, sallied 
forth. But Lucy was, like Peter’s wife’s mother, 
