THE TRAP SET. 101 



to show his younger associates that " not a rotted var- 

 mint o' 'em all could fool old Jake Hawken." 



On arriving at the spot where the mangled remains 

 of the bison lay, which indeed consisted of little but 

 the bones, the trapper first cut down a number of 

 saplings, which he divided into lengths of about a yard 

 each. These he planted firmly in the ground in such a 

 manner as to form a palisade of a semi- oval shape, and 

 of a length within, about sufficient to admit two-thirds 

 of the body of a marten, but of insufficient size to 

 permit the animal to turn round inside. Across the 

 entrance he placed a small log. His next operation was 

 to drag up a long branchless pine which lay prostrate 

 near the spot, and having with much difficulty raised 

 the heavier end of the stem, he carefully placed it 

 upon the small log, in such a manner that they were 

 parallel to each other. A partridge placed as a bait on 

 the point of a short stick projected into the enclosure ; 

 the outer end of this stick supporting the butt end of 

 the heavy tree, and being itself supported by another 

 short stick standing perpendicularly. Jake next covered 

 the top of the trap with small branches, pieces of bark, 

 and leaves, so that no means of access to the interior 

 presented itself except by the entrance. Halving ar- 

 ranged everything to his satisfaction, the old hunter 

 removed the skeleton of the bison to some distance, and 

 returned to the camp. As soon as the boys saw him 

 approaching they came forward to meet him. 



" Well, Jake," said Gaultier, " where's the carcajou ? 



