CHAPTER V. 



Some Early Experiences (Concluded.) 



TWILL state that I began my career as a trapper and hunter at 

 a very early age. The woods extended to the very door of 

 my father's house and deer were more numerous than sheep 

 in the fields at the present day. Bear were also quite plenti- 

 ful and wolves were to be found in considerable numbers in cer- 

 tain localities. Panthers were much talked of and occasionally one 

 would be killed by some hunter or trapper of which I will speak 

 later. 



It was not long before I found my way further up the stream 

 into the woods where mink and coon tracks were in real paths, 

 and here was where father taught me how to make the deadfall, 

 which was the trap principally used in those days. 



The guns that father had were one double barrel shotgun and 

 a single barrel rifle, both flintlocks, and with much anxiety I 

 watched those guns and begged of the older members of the family 

 to let me shoot the gun but mother was ever on the watch to see 

 that I was not allowed to handle the guns. 



About this time a man moved into the place by the name of 

 Abbott from Schuylkill County, Pa., who brought two guns with 

 him, a double barrel shotgun and a double barrel rifle. After 

 doing some hard begging Mr. Abbott said that I could take the 

 shotgun but that he could not furnish the ammunition. I later 

 thought that Mr. Abbott thought that the problem of getting 

 ammunition would put me up the tree. But again the will was 

 good and I soon found a way. I began to watch the hen's nests 

 pretty close and hide away the eggs and mother 'began to com- 

 plain that the hens were not laying as many eggs as usual. Well, 

 three dozen of eggs would get a pound of shot, a fourth of a 

 pound of powder and a box of G. D. gun caps. 



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