Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-06

unbroken forest, he would find sable trap.
ping pleasant as well as profitable way--of
spending his leisure. The woods are gor-
geous with their autumn foliage, the air is
keen and bracing, frosts have killed the in
sect pests.
who is on a visit to his "line," may expect
day full of surprises and wholesome excite
ment A white frost covers the ground and
leaves, making the woods little damp, but
in a few hours they will be dried by the sun,
and in the meanwhile, if the trapper sets out
at a; brisk pace, the dampness and GOODNESS
OF the morning are not unpleasant;
He carries small hatchet, which may
prove. useful in repairing the deadfalls, and
on on his shoulder rests a light fowlngpiece.
The latter comes into play while he is cross
ing. ravine at the foot of the ridge along
which his traps are set
A flock of grouse have been scratching
among the leaves for their breakfast of beech
nuts, and, rising with a whir, shoot down
the. ravine like so many frightened cannon
balls.
But our trapper knows his game, and has
been able to discharge both barrels before
the birds are out of sight. One barrel told,
for yonder young grouse is huttering on the
ground.
Only a novice at grouse-shooting expects to
kill with each shot and the trapper, well
content, deposits the bird in his game-bag
Now he climbs the ridge and finds his pulse
his first dead-fall; but the bait is undisturb-
ed and the trap inspiring.
The next trap is also unsprung, but the
bait has disappeared. Mice must be respon-
sible for this, for fox would have sprung
the trap. As he approaches the third trap,
he sees that it is sprung, and catches
glimpse of something brown.
In moment he has drawn from between
the poles fine, large sable.
The animal, to use trapper's expression,
= i. 4l~nNk I.atA
fur has given place to the thick, glossy coat
of winter Such pelt is worth several dol
lars. and it is with a wellsatisfed air that
the trapper follows the bazed trees to his
next trap.
from theving fishers or foxes. The bait is
gone and the trap dragged behind the tree
among the roots of which it was set Can it
be possible that another sable has been cap
tured?
between its jaws little gray animal, some
what smaller than a red squirrel. 1t is
6yng SQUIRREL whose habits of night prowling
have got him into trouble.
This little creature has beautiful mouse
colored fur, as fine and smooth to the touch
as satin but the weakness of the skin rem
ders it almost worthless,
So the young trapper tramps on over the
two or three miles of wooded ridge along
which his traps extend: Success, of course,
varies, but if three sable are hanging at his
belt when he starts homeward, he is well
His gun has not been idle, and, being a
fair wing-shot, his game-beg should carry half
a dozen grouse.
Lunch was eaten at midday by some for.
est spring, and as he approaches the shanty
the woods are already growing dusky in the
early autumn twilight.
His day in the woods has given the young
healthy WEAKNESS which is surety against
ali troubles of insomnia But, best Of all,
n has brought him nearer to nature and her
secrets, and given him the acquaintance. Of
the agile little fellow, styled by naturalists
H. ,,;na marian or Nj Americana