Polargno’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Here was a prize indeed! This was a fine Arctic fox, and he had never caught so valuable an animal! It was seldom that anybody did, for the Arctic fox is quite as wise and cautious as his brethren of warmer climes. He imagined himself returning to the village with this trophy, and thought with pride of the excitement he would cause, and how the people would gather around him, and congratulate him, and how the fur traders would praise him. And then he began to think what fine things he would get from them in exchange for the skin. But still he was anxious; for, all this time, the animal was on the wrong side of the trap. If he did not go _inside_ of it, farewell to Polargno’s visions, for the boys had no guns, and they would not have done much with them, if they had had them, for they were not skilful in the use of firearms. The animal was evidently suspicious of the fir boughs thrown so carelessly down, and lightly covered with snow; but he was also very hungry, and eager for the food under this arrangement. His hunger proved too great for his prudence, and, after investigating the trap on all sides, and thinking over the matter for a time that seemed very long to the watching boys, he cautiously placed one foot over the spot where the bait lay. This was enough. Click went a wooden spring, concealed among the branches, and down went the fox through a wooden trap underneath, that snapped together again, and shut him in. “Hi,” cried Polargno, as he rushed out from behind the rock, followed by both boys. But he was in too great a hurry. He stumbled over a stone. His feet went up into the air, and his back and head went crashing down into the trap, sending fir boughs and splints of wood flying in all directions. The fox snapped at him, but, fortunately missed his face; and having snipped a little piece out of the boy’s ear, evidently came to the conclusion that running away was better than revenge. He therefore ran over Polargno’s prostrate body, and up his elevated legs, and, making a tremendous spring from the quivering feet, he darted away at his utmost speed. The boys left Polargno to get out of his trap as best he could, and immediately gave chase to the fox. But they knew it was useless. They might as well try to catch the wind. If they had brought the dogs the fox would probably have had the worst of it. But, as it was, he escaped—hungry, but safe. This was Polargno’s adventure with the fox.