WOLF-TRAPS. m 



one, whose ear the wolf, a great black beast, had bitten 

 quite away. 



These traps are set with a bait, but not fastened, for 

 if the wolf is caught, and the trap should be immov- 

 able, he would bite off his own leg sooner than let 

 himself be taken. So the trap is only fastened by a 

 chain to an iron clog with four hooks ; as soon as the 

 Avolf finds himself caught, he attempts to hurry away 

 with the trap, but is detained every moment by the 

 hooks catching in the roots and bushes ; yet he manages 

 to get clear again, and has been known to take the iron 

 clog in his mouth — but the trap still remains a hin- 

 de ranee, and he is easily traced. 



By this time I had enjoyed Indian life long enough, 

 and wished myself back again in more civilized society ; 

 yet I remained another day with them, during which 

 we shot at a mark with bows and arrows, and I caused 

 many a smile among the Indians, as I shot a foot wide 

 of the mark, which they seldom missed. We next 

 threw tomahawks at a tree, and in this ^^I'^ctice I was 

 rather more successful. 



On the following morning I resumed my journey to 

 the east, provided with venison and coarse salt, and as 

 I saw the last Indians disap2)ear behind the trees, it 

 seemed as if I was now for the first time alone in the 

 foi-est ; but I soon became reaccustomed to my former 

 life, and slept again this night, as well as a man can 

 sleep, on grass and fragrant moss. 



Next day I came to the Sabine, seeking in vain for 

 a ford ; and as the river was considerably swelled, and 

 seemed wider and deeper further south, there was 

 nothing for it but a swim. I made a small raft, which 



