TRAPPING UP LITTLE OTTER 173 



we could crouch around our hearthstones to frizzle 

 a slice of salt pork or warm ourselves. 



We had the luck to find a two-inch plank on the 

 premises, which we set edgewise in a corner at a 

 proper distance from one wall, then filled the space 

 with straw purchased of the sawyer, and spreading 

 the buffalo skins on top we were furnished with a 

 luxurious bed. The door being gone, we boarded 

 up its place permanently, using the window hole 

 for ingress and egress, tacking up some boards to 

 keep out the weather when we were in for the night. 



Our arrangements for beginning housekeeping 

 being completed, we made the first round of our 

 traps. The result was not encouraging; the water 

 had risen with the shutting down of the mill gate, 

 covering almost every trap so deep that they were 

 untouched. We made allowance for this rise when 

 resetting, and had better luck, but were at no 

 time overburdened with skinning and stretching 

 skins, for the place was not overstocked with rats, 

 and we had convincing proof that toll was regu- 

 larly taken out of our light catch. The navigation 

 was a continual vexation by reason of stumps just 

 under water, on which a boat would snag itself 

 with a graceful ease that was the poetry of motion, 

 and pivot thereon in exasperating response to our 

 futile efforts to get her off with the bottom out of 

 sounding by paddle or oar, and nothing within 

 reach to push against. 



