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

There was trouble at the Gllmmer-
glass. Not for the animals, but for the
trapper who was hunting them. For
the last three months his snares and
deadfalls and traps had been set on
Canoe point and all round the shore Of
the lake, and even over on the head
waters of the Tahquamenon. None OF
the members Of the Backwoods club
had been caught as yet; but several
of them had had narrow escapes, and
some of their cousins had lost their
lives.
But it was not a four-legged animal
that was captured this time. Can you
imagine what it would be like to hear
grown man, with a d p, strong voice,
crying like lost child? That was
the sort of sound that was ringing
through the woods around the Glim-
merglass, and the animals shrank and
trembled as they listened. They knew
that their old enemy was helpless and
that they were in no danger and yet
it was mans voice, and it made them
afraid. They could not help it.
Two days before, as the trapper was
walking near the northern shore Of the
lake, he had stepped into one Of his
own bear-traps; and its big steel jaws
had come together quick as a fash
around his ankle. 1t was fastened by
a chain over a large log, and no otter
or fox or beaver was ever more firmly
caught than he. He looked around
for a heavy stick that he could use as
a lever to press down the stiff spring
that held the jaws, but there was moth
ing within reach so he took the bar
rel of his rifle and worked away with
it for several hours. 1t was no use.
The trap had two springs, and he
could not keep both down at once,
Then he tried to draw the staple out
of the log, and lying down on his back
he pulled on the chain till his head
swan and his ears rang and black
spots danced before his eyes. He had
to lie still for moment till the dlzzl-
ness passed away. There was still one
chance, and he took out his knife and
began cutting away the wood from
around the staple. But by this time
he was so nervous and excited that his
hand trembled violently. 1t was grow
ing dark, too, for the sun had set
nearly an hour ago, and he could hard
ly see to guide the knife. Suddenly
there was a loud snap and the blade
broke short off.
And then the trapper bowed his
head between his hands and sat very
still for long time. He thought that
there was nothing left for him but to
slowly starvs to death. But by and
by some of his courage came back to
him, and he braced up. Perhaps help
would come from somewhere, and any
how there was no use in worrying to-
night. So he buttoned his jacket more
closely about him and lay down beside
the log to sleep He was no more
lonesome than he would have been III
his solitary cabin by the broad sand
beach at the eastern end of the lake,
and he was used to sleeping out in the
open air
The chipmunk had seen it all, and
now he hurried away to tell the other
animals. Before morning they were
all on hand except the turtle, and be
stayed behind only because he could
not climb the hill that bordered that
part of the lake. At daybreak the
trapper awoke and stretched himself
but he didn't notice the eyes that were
watching him from among the trees
and bushes. The dew had settled
thickly on hi. clothes; he was stiff
with cold and dampness and weak from
hunger, and with every move his ankle
hurt him so that he could hardly keep
from screaming.
Presently his eye fell upon his rife,
and his face frightened as if a new
idea had struck him. He had at least
a dozen cartridges in his pockets.
Perhaps he could loosen the staple by
firing the bullets into the wood around
it. But when he took up the gun he
found that in using it as lever he
had injured the breech 60 that he could
not open it. The disappointment was
more than he could bear, and he gave
a cry of rage and threw it from him
with all his might. 1t fell with the
barrel half hidden under bush, and
before long the trapper saw the stock
move little and then disappear en-
tirely, A moment later he caught a
glimpse of wolf making of through