THE DOG ON THE TRAP LINE. 173 



pains to show and give liim to understand wliat 

 I was doing. I would sometimes, after giving 

 him fair warning, let him put his foot into a 

 trap. I would scold him in a moderate manner 

 and release him. Then all the time I was re- 

 setting the trap I would talk trap to him, and hy 

 action and word teach him the nature of the 

 trap. Mr. Trapper, please do not persuade your- 

 self to belieA'e that the intelligent dog cannot 

 understand if you go about it right. 



In two weeks Pont had advanced so far in 

 his training that I no longer had to pay any at- 

 tention to him on accouat of the traps. The 

 third day Pont was with me he found a 'coon 

 that had escaped with a trap nearly two weeks 

 before. My route called me up a little draw 

 from the main stream. I had not gone far up 

 this when Pont took the trail of some animal 

 and began working it up the side of the hill. I 

 stood and watched him until the trail took him 

 to an old log, when Pont began to sniff at a hole 

 in the log. He soon raised his head and gave 

 a long howl, as much as to say he is here and 

 I want help. After running a stick in the hole 

 I soon discovered that the log was hollow. I 

 took my belt axe and pounded along on the log 

 until I thought I was at the right point and then 

 chopped a hole in the log, and as good luck would 

 have it, I made the opening right on to the 'coon, 



