PIONEER HUNTERS OF THE KANKAKEE 

 And as I said, the logs were green, therefor the 

 cabin did not completely burn down. The pur- 

 porter of this dastardly crime was never appre- 

 hended. VAany theories were advanced for the 

 motive of the crime but no facts, and it was the 

 general supposition that he was murdered for to 

 obtain his money, as they had recently sold their 

 furs. They had chosen this particular time while 

 one was absent from camp. Now 1 will tell you 

 how the Indians and old pioneer trappers made 

 their rude traps in early times. They would take 

 a small log, eight or ten inches in diameter, and 

 fifteen or eighteen feet long and split it about ha If 

 or two-thirds of the way. Place the log on the 

 run-way on the banks of a creek or river or 

 wherever game is likely to pass and then take 

 another small log or heavy stick for weight and 

 it on top of the split pole and then about two 

 feet from the end where the game is to be 

 caught. Drive down two stakes, one on each 

 side of the pole to keep it in place, and two 

 more at the other end the same way, and for 



143 



