SETTING AND BAITING TRAPS. 



33 



before morning. Suppose, too, you wanted 

 to swing a bear or some other large animal : 

 you would have to get a steam-engine or two 

 good horses to pull your pole down ; and 

 then you would leave so much sign that no 

 animal would come within one hundred yards 

 of your trap. 



The best contrivance for swinging animals 

 is what I call a swing-jack, which is made in 

 this way. Take a rope of required strength 

 and procure a stone or small log, that is, say, 

 one-third heavier than the animal you expect 

 to swing. Tie the rope to the center of the 

 weight, making a slip knot in order that it 

 may draw down tight on it ; throw the other 

 end of the rope over the two limbs of a tree 

 that are on an angle with each other, letting 

 it cross them some three or four feet from 

 the trunk. Cut a stick or lever about one 

 foot in length of sufficient strength to hold 

 the weight, and flatten it on two sides. Cut 

 two stakes strong enough when driven into 



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