Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-02-01

his snares and saw him coming toward
them through the trees, and he knew
how they felt And now he opened
his mouth and gave shout that might
have been heard across the Glimmer-
glass if there had been anyone there to
hear. He knew that there was proba-
bly, no one within FIVE miles OF the
lake, and yet he kept on shouting with
all his strength. The animals could
not stand it, and presently they slip
ped away and went down to the beach
to hold a consultation.
Lets go and see what he's got in
his cabin" suggested the grounding.
Good !" cried the other animals,
and away they all went as fast as they
could travel.
The bear was first inside, and when
the others entered they found him sit
ting in the middle of the floor with a
curious mixture of anger and horror
and grief on his face. He was looking
at beautiful bearskiu, with soft, silky
hair FIVE inches long, that lay across
the trapper's bed.
THAT was my cousin, who lived
upon Whitefsh point, he said, sorrow
fully. I'm certain it's he because
part of his left ear is gone. We got
into scrap once when We were cubs
and bit off piece of it.
The animals listened very soberly,
and there were angry mutterlngs from
some of them. But they did not say
much there did not seem to be much
to say. After little they began to
rummage. Behind the bed the beaver
found hoop with the skin of one OF
his relatives stretched upon it. He
thought it was his uncle, but he
wasn't quite sure. Then the wolf
tore open big sack and out tumbled
a heap of furs of all sorts and sizes.
There was a big gray wolf skin care
fully rolled up and tied with a string
and brown minkskin turned inside
out and still showing the shape of the
board upon which it had been dried.
There were otter skins and marten
skins and muskrat skins, and one
dainty little weasel skin that must
have been taken last winter, for 1t
was white and pure as the snow in
January. While they were looking
at them the turtle came toiling painful
ly along,and on the ground outside the
door he came upon the shell of one of
his relations
What shall we do with them ?"
asked the buck.
u suppose we ought to bury them, q"
said the bear solemnly and they
carefully gathered up the sklns,carried
tbaro off into the woods and slowed
them away in hollow stump.
Now" said the wolf, with a savage
light in his eyes, lets 60 and kill
that trapper.
They all started off in a body, but
before they reached the place where
the trapper was lying they stopped.
He shouted again and there was some
thing in the sound of the mans voice
that struck terror in their hearts, even
when they knew that he had no weaP-
on and was chained to log.
Lets wait, said the bear, ,hoarse-
ly hell die before long. anyhow.
And 90 they waited. The day wore
slowly away the sun went down again,
the quiet shadows crept over the Gllm-
merglass and the stars looked down
upon the woods and the water. The
night was very peaceful and beautiful
but every little while there rang out
a cry of terror and OF pain that made
the animals shrink and cover in spite
Of themselves. They knew how be
felt. More than one Of them had
been in trap and somehow their an
ger seemed to be dying out, and they
felt his pain and his trouble and fear
almost as much as be felt them him
self.
The trapper lay awake all that
night. but next day, about the middle
of the forenoon, he fell asleep, utter
" exhausted. Fear and lack Of food
had taken the strength and courage
out Of him. The animals drew nearer
and looked at him more closely. HIS
face was pale and drawn, there were
marks of tears on his cheeks and
sometimes he ssbbed in his sleep.
They talked about him in whispers,
and the chipmunk suggested that II
would be good time to Pounse on
him and make an end Of him. Yet
nobody stirred.
Suddenly the porcupine started up