SOME EARLY EXPERIENCES (CONCLUDED.) 67 



the cat from under the log by punching it, until Frank could see 

 it enough to shoot it. We pulled the cat out from between the 

 logs, took the trap from its foot, reset it and took the cat with our 

 traps and went to camp, declaring in our minds that there was no 

 other such mighty trappers as we. 



Frank declared that he was nearly famished with hunger so 

 we had supper and then skinned the cat. We did not sleep much 

 that night as Frank had to tell me all about things at home. He 

 also told me that pard was no better. Every time an owl would 

 hoot, or a rabbit or porcupine or a mouse would make a noise in 

 the leaves, Frank would give me a punch and ask what it was. 

 Frank remained three days in camp and then he took the stage 

 back home, that being .as long as his parents would allow him to 

 stay. I went to the road to see him off. When leaving he made 

 many declarations that he would come back to camp, although he 

 never did. 



The snow now began to lie on the ground as it fell and it 

 began to get cold at night. Coon did but little traveling and some 

 way, after Frank had been over to camp and stayed those three 

 days, I seemed to get homesick. I had not become expert enough 

 to make a business of deer hunting and marten and bear trapping, 

 so I sprung the deadfalls and took up the few steel traps that I 

 had and began to take my furs and other plunder to the road to 

 take the stage home. After going home I went to school for a 

 few weeks. 



I no longer remember how many coon, mink and other furs I 

 caught, but it was quite a bunch for furs were very plentiful in 

 those days. 



