220 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 



on the south side, and walked up the valley to 

 the marsh; then turned westward along the is- 

 land, looked at the deertrap, settled it afresh, and 

 went to the top of the burnt hill over the north- 

 west point, where I sat watching for some time. 

 After which, merely by accident and contrar}^ to 

 my intention, I crossed upon the trap in my way 

 back to the boat, and by this Avandering prevented 

 the poor Indian boy (Jack) from loosing his leg, 

 at least, nay perhaps I saved his life; for, seeing 

 me upon the hill, he intended to come to me, but 

 in stepping over the trap, his foot slipped, and 

 staggering back, he was caught by one leg above 

 the calf; consequently he must have remained 

 a prisoner there all night. When I came up 

 to him, he smiled in my face and humourously 

 said, '^ Here is a young fool of a deer caught at 

 last." 



Wednes., December 10, 1777. This morning 

 Jack and I crossed the ice to Earl Island above 

 the tickle. I went to my traps at the east end of 

 the island; the first I could not find, but shifted 

 the other there, and baited them all with old 

 Cheshire cheese and honey. Just as I had finished 

 the last, a cross-fox came out of the woods to wind- 

 ward, and turned downwards; as soon as he 

 winded some bits of the cheese which I had 

 thrown at a distance, he stopped as if to consider 

 whether he should venture to eat them or not, at 

 last advancing with the greatest care, and tndng 

 the snow with his feet as he went along, he crept 

 up and took them; growing more bold, he then 



