human
Find any place to make your lay-out to-night, Phil?
gpt
Yes, one splendid spot where a 'coon seems to travel down to the water's edge, to fish, or something or other, Phil replied.
human
You can see his tracks going and coming as plain as anything. I've marked a place where I can tie my camera, and fix the bait so he'll have to be in range when the flash comes. This afternoon I'm meaning to go further afoot, and see if I can run across bigger game.
gpt
You certainly look as if you enjoyed this sort of thing,
human
Why, it seems to grow on you, admitted Phil, with considerable animation.
gpt
In the start I didn't care a great deal about it, and sometimes called myself silly to want to spend so much time trying to circumvent little animals, and get a flashlight picture of them. It's hard work, too, because they're not only shy but cunning as well. What little I've managed to do along that line has made me keen on the subject. And right now I believe I'd rather shoot a moose with a camera than with my Marlin rifle.
human
I confess that I don't understand it, Phil, he went on to say.
gpt
The real thrill must be lacking. You can only get it when you're bent on bagging your game. That's the thrill that comes down to us from our savage ancestors who had to live by hunting.
human
I'm able to judge of that, Ethan, because I've tried both ways; and I give you my word I feel just as much pleasure when I'm trying to outwit a cunning fox as you do when you trap one. I get his picture, and you have his pelt, that's all the difference.
gpt
Well, replied Ethan with a grin,