Both were very still, but soon the fisher
snarled and made a forward lunge. The porcupine, hearing the
sounds or feeling the snow dash up on that side, struck with its
tail; but the fisher kept out of reach. Next a feint was made on
the other side, with the same result; then many, as though the
fisher were trying to tire out the tail or use up all its quills.
Sometimes the assailant leaped on the log and teased the
quill-pig to strike upward, while many white daggers already sunk
in the bark showed that these tactics had been going on for some
time.
Now the two spectators saw by the trail that a similar battle had
been fought at another log, and that the porcupine trail from
that was spotted with blood. How the fisher had forced it out
was not then clear, but soon became so.
After feinting till the Kahk would not strike, the pekan began a
new manceuvre. Starting on the opposite side of the log that
protected the spiny one's nose, he burrowed quickly through the
snow and leaves. The log was about three inches from the ground,
and before the porcupine could realize it, the fisher had a
space cleared and seized the spiny one by its soft, unspiny nose.
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