They were returning to the cabin after a three days' round, when
they saw, far out on the white expanse of the lake, two animals,
alternately running and fighting. "Skookum and the fox," was the
first thought that came, but on entering the cabin Skookum
greeted them in person.
Quonab gazed intently at the two running specks and said: "One
has no tail. I think it is a peeshoo (lynx) and a fox."
Rolf was making dinner. From time to time he glanced over the
lake and saw the two specks, usually running. After dinner was
over, he said, "Let's sneak 'round and see if we can get a shot."
So, putting on their snowshoes and keeping out of sight, they
skimmed over the deer crossing and through the woods, till at a
point near the fighters, and there they saw something that
recalled at once the day of Skookum's humiliation.
A hundred yards away on the open snow was a huge lynx and their
old friend, the black and shining silver fox, face to face; the
fox desperate, showing his rows of beautiful teeth, but sinking
belly deep in the snow as he strove to escape. Already he was
badly wounded. In any case he was at the mercy of the lynx who,
in spite of his greater weight, had such broad and perfect
snowshoes that he skimmed on the surface, while the fox's small
feet sank deep.
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