TRAPPING. 299 



and zigzag lines made by the sharp edges of the iron, 

 sullied the snow. The track led right across the 

 frozen branch of the river ; arriving on the opposite 

 bank of which I found a fox caught by the paw in 

 the trap, which was now entangled in the underwood. 

 The poor little creature's eyes glared with its agony ; 

 it was biting at the branches around, and struggling 

 desperately ; indeed, it would probably have soon 

 escaped with the loss of its foot, which held only by a 

 sinew, the bone being broken, and all else cut through 

 by the sharp edges of the vice-like trap, much like a 

 rat-trap or gin, but without teeth, which it had 

 dragged, as I estimated, about a quarter of a mile. 

 The sight was sickening, and I hastened to put it out 

 of its misery, but broke my first stick, and had to get 

 one heavier to accomplish the task ; siu:e am I that 

 few fair ones who now wear muff and tippet could 

 resume them without a pang, had they witnessed the 

 torture of this poor animal. 



The ice in the Mackenzie " set fast " permanently 

 on the 12th of November, and two days afterwards, 

 four men of my party — the ice-master being left 

 behind on account of his frost-bitten feet — tln-ee of 

 the Company's, two Indians, and myself, started for 

 oui' intended quarters on Great Bear Lake, The men 

 of the Company had each charge of a sledge and 



