FUR FACTS 279 



didn't feel like troubling her further. Perhaps I would soon find 

 another house, anyway. 



Farm houses, in those days, however, were few and far between 

 and night found me far from any signs of civilization — and still with 

 an empty stomach. My hunger, now, however, had abated some- 

 what and I piled myself on top of a brush-pile and went to sleep. 



The following afternoon I arrived at Clarksville and I knew then 

 that I was but eighteen miles from home. I walked on until at 

 9 o'clock that night I came to a neighbor's house, where I was given 

 a good supper and a warm bed. 



The next morning at ten o'clock I was at home toasting my shins 

 by my father's fire. 



CHAPTER II 



It was a day in October. The leaves on the trees in the upper 

 Mississippi Valley had taken on a golden hue; great yellow pumpkins 

 intermingled with acres of corn shocks heralded the approach of 

 winter. Already Jack Frost was in the air and cool breezes began 

 to sally down from the Northland. 



Out in the woodshed I found my traps with the summer's ac- 

 cumulation of rust. I took them out, sandpapered them as best I 

 could and finished by boiling them in a solution of water and walnut 

 hulls. 



This time I was to take my hunting trip alone. Uncle was getting 

 too old to hunt, so he said, and there was no one else in the immediate 

 vicinity whom I could prevail upon to accompany me. 



With 150 traps, my rifle and a week's provisions, I started down 

 the Mississippi River on the 28th of October. Pulling down to the 

 mouth of the Missouri, I established my headquarters in a deserted 

 cabin. Here I proceeded to set my traps, extending my line over 

 the hills and bluffs, creeks, lakes and, in short, every conceivable 

 place where there were signs of fur-bearing animals. 



Muskrat trapping proved especially good that winter, the best 

 ground being the stagnant pools away from the river. Houses built 

 by these animals were quite numerous and I would often break into 

 them and kill the game. If this proved impossible I would place 

 traps within. This latter method was one that entailed easier 

 work than placing |;he traps at sides or holes for once a house was 

 located it would accommodate several traps while I was forced to 

 search for the holes and slides. However, nowadays I do not recom- 

 mend destroying muskrat houses. 



