Frank, the Young Naturalist | Page 5

their united strength in setting it; and its thick, stout jaws, which
came together with a noise like the report of a gun, were armed with

long, sharp teeth; and if a wolf or panther once got his foot between
them, he might as well give up without a struggle. Instead of their guns,
each shouldered an ax. Frank took possession of the trap, and Archie
carried a piece of heavy chain with which to fasten the "clog" to the
trap. Half an hour's walk brought them to the place where the wild-cat
had buried his plunder. After considerable exertion they succeeded in
setting the trap, and placed it in such a manner that it would be
impossible for any animal to get at the sheep without being caught. The
chain was them fastened to the trap, and to this was attached the clog,
which was a long, heavy limb. Trappers, when they wish to take such
powerful animals as the bear or panther, always make use of the clog.
They never fasten the trap to a stationary object. When the animal finds
that he is caught, his first impulse is to run. The clog is not heavy
enough to hold him still, but as he drags it through the woods, it is
continually catching on bushes and frees, and retarding his progress.
But if the animal should find himself unable to move at all, his long,
sharp teeth would be put to immediate use, and he would hobble off on
three feet, leaving the other in the trap.
After adjusting the clog to their satisfaction, they threw a few handfuls
of snow over the trap and chain, and, after bestowing a few finishing
touches, they shouldered their axes and started toward the house. The
next morning, at the first peep of day, Frank and Archie started for the
woods, with their dogs close at their heels. As they approached the spot
where the trap had been placed they held their guns in readiness,
expecting to find the wild-cat secure. But they were disappointed; every
thing was just as they had left it, and there were no signs of the wild-cat
having been about during the night. Every night and morning for a
week they were regular in their visits to the trap, but not even a twig
had been moved. Two weeks more passed, and during this time they
visited the trap but once. At length the time allotted for their stay at
Uncle Joe's expired. On the evening previous to the day set for their
departure, as they sat before the huge, old-fashioned fireplace, telling
stories and eating nuts. Uncle Joe suddenly inquired, "Boys, did you
bring in your trap that you set for that wild-cat?"
They had not thought of it; they had been hunting nearly every day,

enjoying rare sport, and they had entirely forgotten that they had a trap
to look after.
"We shall be obliged to let it go until to-morrow," said Frank.
And the next morning, as soon as it was light, he was up and dressed,
and shouldering an ax, set out with Brave as a companion, leaving
Archie in a sound sleep. It was very careless in him not to take his
gun--a "regular boy's trick," as Uncle Joe afterward remarked; but it did
not then occur to him that he was acting foolishly; and he trudged off,
whistling merrily. A few moments' rapid walking brought him to the
place where the trap had been set. How he started! There lay the
remains of the sheep all exposed. The snow near it was saturated with
blood, and the trap, clog, and all were gone. What was he to do? He
was armed with an ax, and he knew that with it he could make but a
poor show of resistance against an enraged wild animal; and he knew,
too, that one that could walk off with fifty pounds fast to his leg would
be an ugly customer to handle. He had left Brave some distance back,
digging at a hole in a stump where a mink had taken refuge, and he had
not yet come up. If the Newfoundlander had been by his side he would
have felt comparatively safe. Frank stood for some minutes undecided
how to act. Should he go back to the house and get assistance? Even if
he had concluded to do so he would not have considered himself a
coward; for, attacking a wounded wild-cat in the woods, with nothing
but an ax to depend on, was an undertaking that would have made a
larger and stronger person than Frank hesitate. Their astonishing
activity and strength, and wonderful tenacity of life, render them
antagonists not to be despised. Besides, Frank was but a boy, and
although strong and