The thief had not found the line yet, for the haul of marten and
mink was good. But this was merely the beginning.
The trapper law of the wilderness is much like all primitive
laws; first come has first right, provided he is able to hold it.
If a strong rival comes in, the first must fight as best he can.
The law justifies him in anything he may do, if he succeeds. The
law justifies the second in anything he may do, except murder.
That is, the defender may shoot to kill; the offender may not.
But the fact of Quonab's being an Indian and Rolf supposedly one,
would turn opinion against them in the Adirondacks, and it was
quite likely that the rival considered them trespassers on his
grounds, although the fact that he robbed their traps without
removing them, and kept out of sight, rather showed the guilty
conscience of a self-accused poacher.
He came in from the west, obviously; probably the Racquet River
country; was a large man, judging by his foot and stride, and
understood trapping; but lazy, for he set no traps. His
principal object seemed to be to steal.
And it was not long before he found their line of marten traps,
so his depredations increased.
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