NOVEMBER JOE
allow them two things might happen. But when it came to his having more bits of his necker torn off by the spruces where Evans found them, it looked like as if the thief was a mighty poor woodsman. Which he was n't. He hid his tracks good and cunning. After that I guessed I was on the right scent, but I was n't plumb sure till I come up to the place where he killed the partridge. While he was snaring it he rested his rifle ag'in' a tree. I saw the mark of the butt on the ground, and the scratch from the foresight upon the bark. Then I knew he did n't carry no English rifle."
"How did you know?" asked Sally.
"I could measure its length ag'in' the tree. It was nigh a foot shorter than an English rifle."
Val's fist came down on the table. "Bully for you, Joe!"
"Well, now, there was one more thing. Besides that black fox Sally here missed other marked pelts. They was n't much value. Why did the thief take them? Again, only one reason. He wanted 'em for making more false evidence ag'in' Val."
118
