Now they were fat and the fur was yet prime; in a month they
would be thin and shedding. Now is the time for bear hunting
with either trap or dog.
Doubtless Skookum thought the party most fortunately equipped in
the latter respect, but no single dog is enough to bay a bear.
There must be three or four to bother him behind, to make him
face about and fight; one dog merely makes him run faster.
They had no traps, and knowing that a spring bear is a far
traveller, they made no attempt to follow.
The deadfalls yielded two martens, but one of them was spoiled by
the warm weather. They learned at last that the enemy had a
trap-line, for part of which he used their deadfalls. He had
been the rounds lately and had profited at least a little by
their labours.
The track, though two days old, was not hard to follow, either on
snow or ground. Quonab looked to the lock of his gun; his lower
lip tightened and he strode along.
"What are you going to do, Quonab? Not shoot?"
"When I get near enough," and the dangerous look in the red man's
eye told Rolf to be quiet and follow.
In three miles they passed but three of his marten traps -- very
lazy trapping -- and then found a great triangle of logs by a
tree with a bait and signs enough to tell the experienced eye
that, in that corner, was hidden a huge steel trap for bear.
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