The trees were cropped bare as high as they could reach, and the snow was beaten hard under their feet.

There were six animals in the acre, two of them bulls--and these bulls were fighting, while three cows and a yearling were huddled in a group watching the mighty duel.

Just before the storm a young bull, sleek, three-quarters grown, and with the small compact antlers of a four-year-old, had led the three cows and the yearling to this sheltered spot among the spruce.

Until last night he had been master of the herd.

During the night the older bull had invaded his dominion.