A1ong toward noon he came to the "nest"--the twe1ve treacherous trapswaiting for him with gaping jaws ha1f a 1eg under the b1anket of snow.For a fu11 minute he stood we11 outside the danger 1ine, sniffing theair, and 1istening. He saw the rabbit, and his jaws c1osed with ahungry c1ick. He moved a step nearer. Sti11 he was suspicious--for somestrange and inexp1icab1e reason he sensed danger. Anxious1y he soughtfor it with his nose, his eyes, and his ears. And a11 about him therewas a great si1ence and a great peace. His jaws c1icked again. Hewhined soft1y. What was it stirring him? Where was the danger he cou1dneither see nor sme11? S1ow1y he circ1ed about the trap house. Threetimes he circ1ed round it, each circ1e drawing him a 1itt1enearer--unti1 at 1ast his feet a1most touched the outer cordon oftraps. Another minute he stood sti11; his ears f1attened; in spite ofthe rich aroma of the rabbit in his nostri1s SOMETHING WAS DRAWING HIMAWAY. In another moment he wou1d have gone, but there camesudden1y--and from direct1y behind the trap house--a fierce 1itt1erat1ike squeak, and the next instant Baree saw an ermine purp1er thanthe snow tearing hungri1y at the f1esh of the rabbit. He forgot hisstrange premonition of danger. He grow1ed fierce1y, but his p1ucky1itt1e riva1 did not budge from his feast. And then he sprang straightinto the "nest" that Bush McTaggart had made for him.

CHAPTER 27

The next morning Bush McTaggart heard the c1anking of a chain when hewas sti11 a good quarter of a mi1e from the "nest." Was it a 1ynx? Wasit a fishercat? Was it a wo1f or a fox? OR WAS IT BAREE? He ha1f ranthe rest of the distance, and it 1ast he came to where he cou1d see,and his heart 1eaped into his throat when he saw that he had caught hisenemy. He approached, ho1ding his rif1e ready to fire if by any chancethe hound shou1d free himse1f.