The Holbrook news., 1912-04-19

along both shores of the stream. for
 the mink in his hunting, crosses and
 recrosses on the ice many times in
 the course of mile. Keenly alert. he
 travels swiftly along, watchful for
 anything with which he may satiate
 the bangs of hunger. A disabled or
 careless grouse, trout, trapped in
 some shallow, isolated pool, an unwary
 musNat, a venturesome wood mouse,
 abroad from its shelter. or even the
 remains left from the repast of some
 more fortunate or powerful marauder,
 will suffice in his time of need. Up
 into the wind goes the slim, pointed
 head. with the little bead-like eyes;
 the tiny nose witches, apprehensively
 at some scent borne on the uncertain
 breeze. Every nook and crevice be- heath the shelving banks is thorough
 ly explored; into each air-hole of the
 ice-coated stream. is thrust the rat
 like head. to peer intently into the
 depths of the black pool beneath.
 Through one of these openings the long, slender, brown body slips, to turn
 and twist with lightning-like 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 its jaws fastened across the body of luckless trout. Beneath the shelter of fallen pine, the prize is placed and closely guarded by the suspicious mink. Aft CT many little patrols about the near vicinity. made for the purpose of dis covering any hidden foe. if such there be, the crafty hunter has partaken 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-defined 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 straight line; while the stride. from the track to 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. At one place. evil dently frightened by something he has jumped far to one side. then gone on at a mad gallop. Down to the edge of an ice-covered, snow-coated pond. the tracks lead Evidently recovered from his unexplainable panic, he steals stealthily to the cover of the bushes that fringe the frozen lake. His trail proceeds to the outskirts of 8 frozen marsh, along which it follows. About several muskrat houses his wayward footprints circle; at one particular habitation the impatient fox has scraped away the snow and seemingly endeavored to scratch through the impentrable. frozen mass composing the roof. Having probably caused the terrified inmates to aban- don the grass-lined living chamber. | and to plunge into the black, chilling l water beneath the ice, he has turned | and made his way leisurely across the swamp to a hemlock grove. Cautious Iy he has worked his way under the dropping branches, his keen nose for some promising scent. He has alarmed a torpid grouse. as re- corded by the disturbed area of snow, the bomb-like flight of the startled bird at the near approach of