The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-15

Xxx
Doomsdorf's trap lines lay in great
circles. coinciding at various points in
order to reduce the number of cabins
needed to work them, and ultimately
swinging back TO the home cabin in
the thicket beside the sea. They were
very simple to follow, ne explained
Bess' line running up the river TO the
mouth of a great tributary that flowed
from the South. the camp being
known as the Eagle Creek cabin;
thence up the tributary to It's forks,
known as the Forks cabin, up the left
hand forks to it's mother springs, the
Spring cabin, and then straight down
the ridge to the home cabin. four
days journey in all. Doomsdorf drew
for her guidance a simple map that
would remove all danger OF going
astray.
Ned's route was slightly more COM
plicated, yet nothing that the veriest
greenhorn could not follow. 1t took
him first to what Doomsdorf called
his Twelve-Aflle cabin at the very head
OF the little stream on which the home
cabin was built, thence following a
weH-blazed trail along an extensive
though narrow strip OF timber, a fav-
orable country for marten, to the top
of the ridge. around the glacier. and
down to the hut that Bess occupied the
third night out, known as the Forks
cabin; thence up the right-hand fork
to its mother spring. the Thirty-Mile
cabin; over the ridge and down to
the sea. the Sea cabin; and thence.
trapping saltwater mink and otter, to
the home cabin, five days journey in
ALL
AS If smiling upon their venture.
nature gave them clear dawn in
which to start forth. The squaw
and Bess started up from the river
mouth together. the former in the
role of teacher; Ned and Doomsdorf
that rlppled past the home cabin. And
for the first time since his landing
on He'll Island Ned had chance really
10 look about him.
Where there's timber, there's mar.
ten" Doomsdorf explained. 'Marten.
l suppose you know, are the most
valuable furs we take, outside Of sill.
yer and blue fox-and one of the cas-.
lest taken"
He took one of the, traps from
Ned's shoulder and showed him how
to make the set. The bait was placed
a few feet above the trap, in this
case, on the trunk Of the tree, so that
to reach 1t the marten would almost
certainly would spring. the trap.
They tramped on, and Doomsdorf
pointed out where a wolverine had
come down the glade and crossed the
creek. You'll curse at the very name
of wolverine before the seasons done"
Doomsdorf told him, as Ned paused
to study the imprint. Hes the de.
mon OF the snow so far as the 'trapper
Is concerned. Nevertheless, you'll
want to take skin for your own use.
It's the one fur for the hood of
parka-you can wear it over your
mouth in fifty below and 1t doesn't
get covered with ice from your breath
But you'll have to be a smarter man
than I think you are to catch him."
Once they paused beofre a great.
cruel instrument of iron, seemingly
much too large to be a trap, that had
been left at the set from the previous
trapping season.
Lift it, Doomsdorf advised. Ned
bent, finding the iron itself heavy in
his arms.
mo creatures going to walk away
with that on his leg, is hep
"Nn9 That's al x-o,, lr.o.~
it. III admit that you wouldn't care
to walk with it very far. You would
see why 1 didn't take it into shelter
at the close Of the season-aIthough of
course it's easy enough to haul on a
sled. You notice it's attached to
chain, and that chain to a toggle."
'Toggle" was a word that Ned had
never heard before. but which plainly
represented great log. or drag. to
which the trap chain was attached.
1t took nearly all OF Ned's strength
to push down the powerful springs
and set the great jaws. The fact
that he didn't know just how to go
about it impeded him, too. And
when he stood erect again. he found
Doomsdorf watching him with keen
est interest.
Il didn't think you were man
enough to do It," he commented.
You'll say that's quite trap, won't
you?"
It's quite a trap" Ned agreed
shortly. What kind OF an elephant
do you take in it?'
No kind OF elephant, but one of
ssssssa siss,z