The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-08

along both shores OF the stream, Tor
the mink in his hunting, crosses and
rcCrosses on the ice many times IN
the course OF mile keenly alert, lie
travels swiftly along watchful for
anything with which he may sat!ate
the pangs of hunger. A disabled or
careless grouse. a trout, trapped In
some shallow. isolated pool, al unwary
muskrat. a venturesome wood mouse
abroad from its shelter. or even the
remains left from the repast OF some
more fortunate or powerful marauder,
viii suffice In his time OF need. Up
into the wind goes the slim pointed
head with the little bcad-liko eyes;
the tiny nose witches. auprehensiyely
at some scent borne on the uncertain
breeze. Every nook and creylCe be
meath the shelving banks Is thorough.
~ explored; into each Rir-aole OF The
ice.coated stream Is thrust the rat.
like head. 70 peer intently into the
depths of the black pool beneath
Through one of these openings the
long. slender brown body slips 20 turn
and twist with lightniuEllke rapidity
in the icy current. Emerging from
the chilling water. its wet coat glisten-
ing, It's eyes flashing triumphantly,
the agile little animal has It's jaws
fastened across the body OF luckless
trout Beneath the shelter OF a fallen
pine. the prize IS placed and closely
guarded by the suspicious mink Aft
or many little patrols about the near
vicinity. made for the purpose OF dis
covering any hidden foe, II such there
be the crafty hunter has oartaken OF
his well-earned meal Some telltale
evidences left behind on the trampled
snow proclaim all this. and then the
tracks lead on down the stream.
At some distance from the brook.
bed. farther back IN the forest, winds
the clear-cut. well-defned tracks Of the
red fox The footprints are distinguish
able from those Of the lynx even at
first glance The imprints themselves
are narrower and placed more nearly
in a straight line; while the stride
, from the track 70 track IS half again
as long as IN the wider lynx trail The
/ drag OF the bushy tail is duly recorded
as the sharply outlined footprints lead
up to and over the brow Of a hill
From the clean, sharp tracks left on
the snow, one can readily imagine the
sly, red fellow daintily placing those
! tireless black feet The trail leads
into an old wood road along which
the fox has trotted AZ one place, evil
IDENTIFY frightened by something he has
! Jumped far 20 one side. then gone on
at a mad gallop. Down 70 the edge
! OF an Recovered snow-coatcd pond,
the tracks lead Evidently recovered
} from his unexplainable panic, he steals
/ stealthily 20 the cover OF the bushes
! that fringe the frozen lake His trail
proceeds 10 the outskirts of a frozen
marsh. along which II follow About
several muskrat houses his wavward
/ footprints circle; at one particular
domo-shaped habitation the impatient
! fox has scraped away the snow and
| seemingly endeavoTed 70 scratch
through the impentrable frozen mass
COMPOSING the roof Having probably
caused the terrified inmates 20 aban-
don the grass-lined living chamber.
and to plunge into the black. chilling
water beneath the ice. he has turned
and made his way leisurely across the
swamp to a hemlock grove. Cautious.
" he has worked his way under the
dropping branches, his keen nose
searching for some promising scent.
He has alarmed a torpid grouse, as re-
corded by the disturbed area OF snow,
showing the bomb-like flight OF he
startled bird at the near approach Of
the silent stalker.
At one place he has Jumped for a