III
THEHOMEOFTHELYNX
AtfirstThor，beingtown—bred，wastimidaboutventuringintothewoodsbeyondthesoundofCorney’saxe;butdaybydayhewentfarther，guidinghimself，notbyunreliablemossontrees，butbysun，compass，andlandscapefeatures。Hispurposewastolearnaboutthewildanimalsratherthantokillthem;butthenaturalistisclosekintothesportsman，andthegunwashisconstantcompanion。Intheclearing，theonlyanimalofanysizewasafatWoodchuck;ithadaholeunderastumpsomehundredyardsfromtheshanty。Onsunnymorningsitusedtoliebaskingonthestump，buteternalvigilanceisthepriceofeverygoodthinginthewoods。TheWoodchuckwasalwaysalertandThortriedinvaintoshootoreventotraphim。
\"Hyar，\"saidCorneyonemorning，\"timewehadsomefreshmeat。\"
Hetookdownhisrifle，anold—fashionedbrass—mountedsmall—bore，andloadingwithcarethatshowedthetruerifleman，hesteadiedtheweaponagainstthedoor—jambandfired。TheWoodchuckfellbackwardandlaystill。Thorracedtotheplaceandreturnedintriumphwiththeanimal，shouting：\"Plumbthroughthehead——onehundredandtwentyyards。\"