CHAPTER X
THE FLASHLIGHT PICTURE
"But didn't they tell us that wolves had been pretty much cleaned outof Maine in the last twenty years?" ventured Will, looking uneasy.
"Yes, that's a fact," Frank admitted; "but once in a while there seemsto be a raid from Quebec Province, or New Brunswick, and fromdifferent sections reports come in of packs being seen. There's abounty on wolf scalps up here; but not much money is paid out forthem--that is, for animals killed in a wild state."
"In what other way could they be killed, Frank?" demanded Bluff,thinking that perhaps he had one on the other just then.
Frank, however, smiled at him, as he explained:
"It happened that they once discovered a wolf ranch in a secluded partof the State. A smart chap was actually breeding the animals for thesake of the skins and the bounty that the State allowed him. Ofcourse, they put a stop to his business. But that reminds me I didn'tthink to tell you about the fur farms we have up here."
"That sounds interesting!" Jerry declared.
"Of course you mean where they raise all sorts of fur-bearing animalsfor the sake of their pelts?" Bluff suggested.
"Yes; and they say that good money is made at the business, too," hewas told. "One man I knew had a fox farm. He had managed to get holdof a few black foxes, and told me that if they bred true hiseverlasting fortune was made; because, as we know, the skin of a goodblack fox is worth all the way from five hundred to two thousanddollars."
"How about skunks--I understand there are farms where they raise themby the thousand?" Bluff ventured, with an upturning of the nose.
"I'm told they pay good dividends," Frank explained, "but can't sayfrom my own observation, because I've never dared to visit one. Butyou must remember that a polecat is only dangerous when frightened.They say that if you treat them gently they get to know you and arenot to be feared any more than so many puppies."
"Excuse me from trying to follow that occupation," chuckled Jerry;"but I wonder if that really was a genuine wolf, or a snow owlhooting?"
"Let's go outside and listen, because I want to know," suggested Will,into whose eyes an eager glow had crept, as he remembered he had acamera trap baited with some fresh venison and that if there werehungry wolves around he stood a chance of obtaining a remarkablepicture.
They clapped on caps and sweaters, and all went outside. The night wasfairly dark, and still. Overhead a million stars shone and the softbreeze sighed itself to sleep among the pines.
"There it goes again!" exclaimed Bluff suddenly.
"And it sure is a wolf--eh, Frank?" Jerry cried.
"Oh, I hope so!" Will was heard to say, at which the others weresurprised until Frank guessed the reason.
"You're thinking of that flashlight trap, are you, Will, and hoping tocatch bigger game than you set it for? Well, if any of those hungrychaps come smelling around in this direction I wouldn't be surprisedif you did. They can find a piece of fresh meat that's half a mileaway."
"Just like those buzzards down in Florida could discover where therewas any dead animal, and would come flying from every direction,"Bluff remarked.
They soon grew tired of staying out in the cold, and listening to theoccasional mournful sound that all had decided came from the throat ofa gray pilgrim from Canada.
Now and then it seemed closer; and Bluff even declared that he coulddistinguish several different grades of howls.
"Must be a pack of the rascals!" he ventured to say. "Who knows butsome of us may run up against the bunch while we're around here? I'dlike nothing better, take it from me, than to knock over a few of themeasly things. They're a mean lot and without a single redeemingquality, like a fox."
Once more returning to the warm cabin, they sat around until finallyFrank drove them all to their bunks.
"I'll never be able to get you out at a decent hour in the morning,"he told them, "if you keep on sitting here, blinking at the fire, andyawning every little while."
If the wolves came closer to the cabin during the night, no one seemedto be aware of the fact. At least, their howling certainly did notkeep a single boy from enjoying his customary sleep.
Will hurried out as soon as he was dressed. Frank knew what he meantto do, and stopped him long enough to advise him to carry his gunalong.
"You never know what you may meet when you least expect it," was theburden of his warning. "And when there's an ugly bobcat ready to jumpon your back or fight for the game that's in your trap, you'll wishyou'd been wise enough to come prepared."
"I guess you're right about that," Will admitted, as he returned forhis weapon. He knew what wolves were like, and the possibility ofmeeting one in the big timber gave him a panicky feeling.
Shortly afterward he came hurrying in, breathless and excited.Although none of the others had heard so much as a shot, the firstthing they thought was that Will must have run up against a thrillingadventure of some kind.
"Did anything tackle you?" demanded Jerry, showing immediate interest.
"Was it a wolf or a wildcat; and did you shoot him?" asked Bluff.
Frank said nothing. He saw how the other was carrying his camera underhis arm, and could give a good guess as to the cause of hisexcitement.
"Nothing tackled me!" exclaimed the picture taker indignantly. "I wasonly going to tell you that the trap was sprung and my flashlight musthave worked."
"But of course you don't know whether it was a muskrat, a fox, a mink,or perhaps a prowling 'coon that grabbed your bait," Bluff commented.
"I'll know after I've had a chance to develop the film," he was told."You know I have single ones that fit in frames, so they act likeglass plates; only there's no weight, and no danger of breaking themwhen you tumble."
"Was the bait gone?" pursued Bluff.
"Yes, the string was broken across the middle; and it was a goodstrong cord," Will informed him.
Frank saw Bluff nod his head as though pleased. He said nothing more,however, but as soon as breakfast had been disposed of they missedBluff. He came in presently with a grin on his face.
"Guess you're in luck to-day, Will," he remarked carelessly.
"What makes you say that, Bluff?"
"Your visitor wasn't a mink, nor yet a fisher, a fox, or a 'coon,"Bluff went on.
At that, Will began to show signs of excitement.
"Do you mean it was a wolf?" he demanded eagerly.
"Either that or a dog," replied Bluff; and then seeing that it wasonly fair to explain further, he continued: "I found his trail as easyas falling off a log. Of course, I don't pretend to be an authority onwolf tracks, because they look pretty much like a dog's; but therewere plenty around, so I figured there must have been a fair pack."
"They were wolves, then, take it from me," Frank asserted. "We onlyknow of one dog in the woods besides a couple at Lumber Run Camp, andthey keep them tied up most of the time."
Will could not wait a minute longer. He had carried a little tank intothe wilderness with him, by means of which it was possible to developfilms in the daytime as well as by ruby light in a dark room.
When he reappeared later on there was a look on his face thatannounced his complete satisfaction with the results. The others didnot bother asking him to show them, knowing that in good time, whenhis film had had a chance to dry, Will would surprise them with ablueprint.
Everybody found plenty to do, it seemed, that morning. The coldweather had kept on, and as there was a small pond not far away fromthe cabin they found that the ice would bear them.
Bluff and Jerry had managed to fetch their skates along, althoughFrank had attempted to dissuade them, on account of the extra weightand the fact that they could have all the skating they wanted at homeon the river.
The two boys wanted to say they had tried Maine ice, so they fastenedtheir skates and whirled around innumerable times, making the circuitof the little pond.
Frank had partly arranged with Jerry to go on another hunt after themidday meal. Will did not
care to go, and Bluff had a sore heel fromhis shoe chafing on the previous occasion, so he concluded to rest alittle.
After the skaters had returned to camp, they amused themselves withthe ax for a spell, Frank and Will having done their part earlier inthe day. It was good healthy labor; and, besides, they needed the woodin their business of keeping the fire burning on the hearth inside thecabin.
Will could be seen watching a printing frame which he had set in thesun. Every little while he would snatch it up to look, and then placeit once more.
Finally he approached the others.
"Anything doing?" questioned Frank, smiling as he saw the other tryingas hard as he could to look unconcerned.
"Oh, I just thought I'd like to get somebody's opinion about what thisbeast is, that's all," remarked Will, suddenly flashing the blueprint.
"Whew! Doesn't he look sassy, though!" exclaimed Jerry.
"It's a wolf, all right, and as fine a picture as you could dream ofgetting!" Frank said.
"The flash has startled him, and he's showing his teeth likeanything!" was the verdict of Bluff. "Will, take my word for it, yourwolf picture will win you the first prize they offered of a flashlightanimal taken by himself!"
"Oh, do you think so, Bluff? It's nice to hear you say that. So youlike it, do you, Frank? Everything seemed to work like magic. Why,that trap is perfect, that's what it is! A greenhorn photographercould get good results with that arrangement."
"Now, don't you believe it," Jerry told him; "I'd make a mess of it,for one. You know every little wrinkle of the business, and this iswhat comes of it. That's sure a dandy picture."
They were all feeling unusually happy as they sat down to eat themidday meal. As a rule, this might be called a lunch; but with suchferocious appetites as all of them seemed to have developed sincearriving in camp, it was necessary to do considerable cooking.