With Trapper Jim in the North Woods | Page 9

I caught that black fox I found that his skin had been so badly torn
by birdshot that it wasn't worth handling."
"That's right, it would," admitted Owen.
"You can depend on us to hold back," Max added, sincerely.
"Well, this is about all the traps I care to put out to-day," and as he
spoke Jim made them up in two bundles, one of which he gave to Toby
and the other to Bandy-legs.
He saw that, ordinarily, these two were the least important members of
the club. And in the kindness of his heart he wished to make them feel

that he needed their especial help.
So Toby and the other chum slung the traps over their shoulders with
ill-concealed pleasure in that they had been singled out for such
attention by the old trapper.
"Then you don't mean to set Old Tom to-day," asked Owen, pointing to
a big trap, whose weight and grim-looking jaws announced that it was
intended for large game.
Old Jim smiled and shook his head, as he replied:
"Hardly any use, unless we run across bear tracks. Such a thing might
happen, you know; because it did snow last night, and there's a good
inch on the ground right now."
"But, hold on," said Owen, "I understood that bears always went to
sleep in the fall and stayed in some cave or a hollow tree till spring
came."
"They do," answered the trapper, "but generally hang around till the
first real hard blizzard comes along. This little snow don't count, and
every day a bear is able to be around hunting roots and such things,
why, the less he has to live on his own fat, you know, But we're all
ready now, so come along, boys."
The dogs were left at the cabin, which Jim did not even shut up. He
knew Ajax and Don would stay close at home; for the sight of the
strings of traps told the intelligent dogs they could not be allowed to
accompany their master on this expedition.
An hour later, and Jim was showing the eager and curious boys who
remained at a little distance, so that their scent might not cause the
cautious mink to abandon his usual trail, just how he set a trap in order
to catch the cunning little animal, and make him drown himself with
the weight of the trap.
The snare was set at the mouth of a hole in the bank of a creek, and

which, Jim informed them, was one of many visited by the male mink
each night as they wandered up and down the stream.
He used some animal "scent" contained in a small bottle to help attract
his prey. Then, after destroying all evidences of his having been there
as much as he possibly could, Trapper Jim rejoined the boys.
"Now we'll head for the marsh where I put several traps day before
yesterday and mean to add a few more to-day," he remarked. "As we go,
I'll try to explain just why a man has to be so very careful whenever he
matches his wits against those of a wily and timid little beast."
They hung upon every word Jim uttered, for these secrets of the woods
were things all of them had long wanted to know. What could musty
old school books teach them that could equal the knowledge they
imbibed straight out of the fountain of experience.
It was while Jim was holding forth in his most effective manner, so as
to thrill every one of his boy friends, that they saw him come to a
sudden stop.
His eyes were fastened upon the white ground just in front of them, and
as he pointed with his gun he electrified the boys by saying:
"Mebbe after all we might have use of Old Tom to-morrow, for there's
the tracks of a big bear."
CHAPTER IV.
THE SECRETS OF TRAPPING.
"Bully!" cried Steve, looking almost as happy as he did on that
never-to-be-forgotten day when they found their first lovely pearl in a
mussel taken from the Big Sunflower River.
"A b-b-bear!" exclaimed Toby. "L-l-let me s-s-see."
All of them were soon eagerly examining the marks so plainly

described in the light snow. Bruin had evidently shuffled along here,
heading for some favorite place in the neighboring marsh, where he
knew food was still to be found.
"We'd better leave the old chap alone for a bit," announced Jim. "When
I can make sure by his coming back to his den the same way that he's
got a regular trail, we'll lay for him."
"I'd like to get in a shot with my gun," declared Steve.
"H-h-ho! Much g-g-good your N-n-number Seven shot'd d-d-do against
his t-t-tough old hide!" jeered Toby.
"Get out! You