Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-29

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pine.
That must be the mouth Of a den said
Jud' " the place where he goes in lie stays
there days, aud comes out nights to prowl
about
We had stopped padding, and while we
were looking up to the rocks, large gray
creature crept ont Of the hole, and walking
cautiously along the shelf ,harpencd its claws
in the trunk OF the pine, stretched and then
crouchod down in the sun.
We had taken our guns, but it was much
too far and too high to bit him.
Let's fire, though said Jud Aiming
over the side of the canoe, we let another dose
Of shot fly at him and heard it rattle on the
rocks The animal jumped up, spit like
cat and crawled hastily back into the fssure.
"Spolled his nap, anyhow" said Jud
Tell YOU what We can DO, though con.
tinucd be-, as we padded back We can
borrow old Hughys bear trap, and set it At
the top Of the crag at the place whore Rd
jumps out of the pine"
llughy was quite willing to lend Us his /
trap, when he heard what a loss grandfather
had met with 1t was a monstrou, great
thing, weighed seventy or eighty pounds, and
the jaws were armed with large, sharp teeth, .
which matched together And the springs
were so stiff that even lIughy had to use a
lever 10 bend them into place when he set it. .
Putting it on a stout pole between Us, we
tugged it down to the ledge, and using the pole .
for lever, managed, after considerable pry- .
ing, to set it
Hunters reyer chain trap for a bear
They merely " clog IT, that is, they fasten
a heavy log Of green wood to the trap, aud
so let the bear drag it till he is tired. But
we chained this TO the root Of stump, plac.
ing it in such o way that when the creature
jumped from the top Of the pine to the rocks
he would be likely to jump into it,
Once let him get his paw in there" said .
Jud, and he'll have to wait and settle his
mutton bill
The next morning we run down in expect
alton Of finding prisoner But there sat
the trap, just as we had placed it, 1t was
evident that the beast had been out of his
den, though for the carcase was nearly de-
youred. He had dined aud gone back
Probably couldn't see any good reason for
Jumping into the trap as long as he could
jump over it,
We now changed the position of the trap,
and covered it over with dry grass, to con.
ceal it from sight
During the night he finished the NUT
ton, but did not condescend to step into
the trap. lie must have taken long jump
aside.
do believe be will outwit us after all, ," |
said Jud, peeping over into the abyss
tf mo .at,fl a 1 l.
on that shelf, at the foot of the tree he |
would have to 60 over to it then, it's so mar
row there
Yes, but how are We to get the trap
down there % said L.
We can let it down with a rope, and
hitch the rope up here at the top. If he
gets into it we can draw him up"
ltwould take a long rope, and strong
one. too"
" Yes. That one on the old tackle and |
fall would do that's both long and strong
We got the rope and looping one end of it
round the stump, tied the other to the trap
all set as it was, and easing over the edge,
let 1t slide down the rocks. But it kept
sprnging. We had to draw it up and set
1t half dozen times. Finally, however, We
got it safely lodged on the shelf near the foot
Of the pine.
Have hard work to jump by that" said
Jud. He has to walk pretty caution, along
that shelf
Fastening the rope securely at the top, we
left it for night to decide.
Early the next morning frightful snarling
and growing began to be heard--eyen at the
house and running hastily down through the
pasture, we beheld the upper end of the rome
conyulsed by frantic jerks from below.
We have bite, at last, guess " laughed
Jud. Peerlng over we could just see him
great, ierce-ookng creature, caught by one
foot and dangling over the edge Of the shelf.
No wonder he snared
Grandfather followed US down.
Draw him up, boys, said he, after taking
look over I'VE will put the poor brute
out OF his agony as soon as we can. You
draw him up, and I'll stand ready to shoe,
him as soon as he is in sight"
II was about as much as we could do: but
tugging hard, we slowly pulled up the rope.
The groWls filled the air, and resoundiug from
the rocks echo d across the pond. He didn't
like to come, and was constantly springing
I ~AN lNA mug
OF course We were anxious to have the
shooting part done before he arrived at the
top of the cliff.
Now be sure to hit him, grandfather" :"
said Jud, " because he might chaw us up if
you don't"
Yes, yes pull steady !"
But while yet few yards from the top,
the creature caught bis claws into crevice,
and, with a sudden leap upward, showed his
wild fierce face over the edge Seized with
a panic we let go the rope, aud down he went.
Trap aud beast together falling fifty feet,
was too much for the rope it snapped. A
wild yell rang up. We heard the trap clank-
ing and clattering down the rocks, and anon
sullen plunge far below, and saw the widen
ing ripples chase each other out into the
pond
Going round aud down to the shore, we
took the canoe aud padded to the spot The
broken end Of the rope was floating. Taking
hold Of it, we drew up the trap, and with il
the animal-drowned, Of course.
Old Hughy pronounced it wolverine
But it wasn't much like the description of
the animal, given in the Natural History in
fact we never felt sure what it was Youfhs
Companion