38 FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



to make the bait pen a little stronger so Bruin could not tear il 

 down so readily to get at the bait. I did not think that a bear 

 knew anything about "trapology," for the experience I had so far 

 in bear trapping was that bears knew but little more about a trap 

 than a hog, though later I found I was very much mistaken. 



The trap was set in a small brook where there were plenty of 

 rocks of all sizes. I rolled several of these rocks, as large as I 

 could handle, up about the bait pen to strengthen it to such an 

 extent that Bruin would not think of tearing it down. I figured 

 the bear by going over the trap would take the bait from the 

 entrance of the pen as a good bear should; though in this I was 

 greatly mistaken. The second day I went to the trap with full 

 expectation of finding Bruin fast in the trap, but again I was dis- 

 appointed Bruin had again gone to the back "of the pen and 

 torn the top of the pen off, rolling away some of the stones, 

 taking the bait. 



Now I saw that if I was to get my friend Bruin, I would have 

 to work a little strategy. I removed 'the trap from the clog, leav- 

 ing the clog undisturbed and making all appear just the same as 

 it did when the trap was set. I was very careful to have the cov- 

 ering of the trap left just the same as when the trap was set. 

 Then I got another clog and set the trap at the back of the pen 

 at the place where the bear had torn off the top of the bait pen. 

 Here I concealed the trap and clog as completely as I knew how 

 and being very careful to make all appear just as before the trap 

 was set, flattering myself that Bruin would surely put his foot in 

 it this time. 



I went early the next morning, being sure that I would find 

 Bruin, but no bear had been there. I went again early the next 

 morning with high expectations of finding Bruin waiting for me, 

 but again nothing had been disturbed. Thinking that Bruin had 

 left that locality altogether, or that he would not be back again 

 for several days, I thought I would go and have a team come and 

 take out the furs and game I had, and give Bruin time to get back 

 after more bait. As I had caught no bear at the other traps, I 

 felt quite certain that Bruin was still somewhere in the neighbor- 

 hood and would be around again after more bait. 



