New-York tribune., 1911-02-05

: : = J. \: \. n. 1. I Il !.
~. Az Ishmael indeed, his fangs and his
~ HSt ~ claws were against every other
LK AZ u dwcller of the wilderness, great
w 10 or small And every other dwellcr OF
y y the wilderness against him, the
~ Z small and weak with unSlccplng terror.
and even the powerful with hate that
was not unmxcd with dread. The bear
himself scrcncly Scornul OF much bigger
foes condcsccnded to regard him with
vigilant anmoSity. Only the giant
moose ignored him utterly, and Stalkcd
through the forest UNCONSCIOUS OF his
presence.
Vet this creature that was able to win himself the
tribute of much fear and much hate this lShnacl
of the hcmlocl glooms, no bigger than bobcat or
a fox. Among backwoodsmen and rapperS ne was
known by various names. The most common OF these
was the fisher though why he should be 50 called was
something Of mystery, his prowesS as fisherman
being much inferior even 70 that OF the racoon ana OF
course in no way comparable with the skill OF such eX-
pcrs as the mink and the otter. He known also as
the black cat; though he not black, and neither
was he cat. That he should have been 50 inappro-
priately named, however, IS perhaps not surprising
His personality not one that lent itself to exact or
intimate observation, and such information aS men
were able to gather in regard to him was apt in the long
run, to prove inaccurate.
\ member Of the great and redoubtabc Mlsteid fam
ily this shmacl Of the hcmock gooms had all the light
ming agility and fcrOcous, untamabc courage OF his lit
tc cousin the weasel together with the mcrcicSS craft
and much Of the astonishing muscular strength OF his
bulkcr kinsman. the hated wolverine, or Inun devil
Though hardly more than three feet in length from his
sharp cruel muZzlc to the TIP Of his handsome, buShY.
brown tail, by means Of the incredible swItncSs and
savagcrv OF his attack he was than match for
the powerful Of foxes for any dog OF even twice
his weight The few advcrSlrics whom he was forced
to recognize outcassng him in strength he could
generally manage to oycrrcach by craft.
TT was in a dark and tangled hcmock wood that lsh-
macl had his retreat where the sombcr cycrgrccnS
shut out the sun in winter in summer, and fallen
dccaving trunks made the earth labvrlnlh OF oruous
runway and unexpected hdings. This was his chosen
domain for ne climbed ike squirrel and 1t wa all the
same him whether he travelled on the ground or 10y
way Of the swaying rcctops But game was no longer
very abundant IN the hcmlock wood, methods Of
hunting were too effective for that,-and he was wont
TO forage far acd. Running soundessly a mink and
trclcssy as 4 wolf he would enormous distances
between the evening and the morning red He was no
rcspcctcr OF bounds but poachcd impartllly on all
preserves challenging every other mardudcr OF the tor
est 10 the contest OF either strength or craft.
And all dav amid the sombcr green shadows OF the
hcmlocks he would sleep cucd up like peaceful tabby,
in the heart Of some hollow trunk. He was fond OF sleep.
IIs tremendous cncrgcs required lot oi IT. And tins
was fortunate for other forest kndrcs who thus
enabled 10 90 al day hhcr and thlthcr through the
hcmlock plooms their iurlvc affairs intent, without
fear Of the dreaded sleeper IN his tree.
But when dusk fell even the nimbc wood mice were
shy OF the ncighborhood; and the wild rabbits, who
lshmacs chief dependence for ms daily diet, fled
to the more open hardwood ridges for their moonlight