20 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



crawls under the deadfall and into the shingle-box, seizes 

 the bait with a greedy growl of exultation, and crash! 

 the log comes down upon his devoted back, at $io per 

 crash. 



There are many advantages about this axe-made 

 marten trap. A wolverine cannot steal it and throw it 

 into the nearest river; it is never stolen by the Bad Man 

 of the Fernie District; it never rusts, it is cheap, and 

 there is no need to " order it from the factory." The 

 only drawback about it is that martens do not always 

 range in timber suitable for deadfall traps. 



As we rode ahead of the wagon, Mr. Phillips on 

 " Lady-Bug," Charlie on " Muggins," and I on old 

 " Warrior," Dog Kaiser side-stepped into the jungle and 

 gave tongue. In a deep, rich voice he cried " Oh! Woo! 

 woo! woo!" with his nose pointed upward into a low 

 jack pine. 



" Fool-Hens," said Charlie, dismounting. About ten 

 feet above Kaiser's nose sat a fine, full-plumaged male 

 Franklin grouse, with a superbly black breast and neck, 

 but no mental capacity. To all appearances it was a bird 

 of only two ideas: (i) to forage on the ground until dis- 

 turbed, and (2) when disturbed to fly only ten feet into 

 the nearest tree and wait to be shot. Naturally, a bird 

 with only two ideas is not long for this world. Five 

 birds rose before the dog and perched in five nearby 

 jack pines and spruces. I sat down within ten feet of a 

 particularly intelligent-looking bird, while the others 

 went ofif, and killed birds for supper. I wished to see 

 how the noise and bustle would affect my bird's nerves. 



