Apparently, it was on one of these occasions that the silver fox had driven him nearly frantic by eating rabbits on the roof above him.
The exasperating robbery of their trap line had gone on irregularly all winter, but the thief was clever enough or lucky enough to elude them.
They were returning to the cabin after a three days' round, when they saw, far out on the white expanse of the lake, two animals, alternately running and fighting.

"Skookum and the fox," was the first thought that came, but on entering the cabin Skookum greeted them in person.
Quonab gazed intently at the two running specks and said: "One has no tail.

I think it is a peeshoo (lynx) and a fox." Rolf was making dinner.

From time to time he glanced over the lake and saw the two specks, usually running.

After dinner was over, he said, "Let's sneak 'round and see if we can get a shot." So, putting on their snowshoes and keeping out of sight, they skimmed over the deer crossing and through the woods, till at a point near the fighters, and there they saw something that recalled at once the day of Skookum's humiliation.
A hundred yards away on the open snow was a huge lynx and their old friend, the black and shining silver fox, face to face; the fox desperate, showing his rows of beautiful teeth, but sinking belly deep in the snow as he strove to escape.