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RECREATION MAGAZINE 



Let's go easy and see 'f we can't catch 

 him in the act." 



They did not stop now where they 

 had set their traps the day before, but 

 as they shot along, saw that most of 

 them had been taken. Soon they noticed 

 bubbles on the surface of the water 

 where a boat had very recently passed. 



"Si-s-s-st; did you hear that?" whis- 

 pered Jim. 



"Yep," answered the other; "it's him 

 paddling; keep quiet now." 



Again came the splash of a mis-stroke 

 from around the bend ahead. The 

 hearts of both boys were thumping and 

 they were straining every nerve. Just 

 above them, but not yet to be seen on 

 account of a small projection of land, 

 was a very sharp bend immediately 

 around which was a little unsubstantial 

 island, five or six feet in diameter, bear- 

 ing a clump of alders with a "muskrat's 

 house." On this they had several traps. 

 As they came around the first point 

 they were just in time to catch sight of 

 the stern of a skiff going around the 

 bend. They kept on up to the crook, 

 where they saw through the bushes 

 the dreaded "Sime." He had landed 

 upon the island. 



They had not planned what they 

 should do in case they actually came 

 upon the marauder, but now was the 

 time when something must be done. 

 Billy quickly grasped the situation, and, 

 after a whispered explanation to Jim, 

 silently sculled the sneak boat around to 

 the very angle of the bend, and then, 

 with a master stroke of the paddle, sent 

 it flying toward the island. "Swipe's" 

 back was turned to them. He was busy 

 taking up the last trap. The nose of his 

 skiff was pulled up on the margin of 

 the island just enough to keep it from 

 floating off. The securing of this boat 

 was the boys' only chance, and before 

 the startled thief got his wits about 

 him Jim had hold of the stern of his 

 skiff, and by a powerful twist of the 

 paddle Billy sent the two boats into 

 mid-stream just as "Sime" reached, all 

 in vain, for the bow of his craft. 

 "Swiping Sime" was a captive. 



"There," ejaculated Billy, "now what 



you got to say for yourself? you mean 

 skunk!" 



"I say, you fetch that b't back, quick 

 too, or I'll break your necks." 



"Well, when you git off that 'hum- 

 mock' you won't be in no fit condition 

 to break anybody's necks, you low- 

 down, sneaking trap-robber, you !" 



"I hain't stole no traps ; can't any- 

 body go trappin' without being called 

 a trap-robber, I should like to know?" 



"You hain't stole any traps, have 

 you? Well, how came all these, with 

 our marks on um, in your boat?" 



The guilty prisoner was silent for a 

 moment, but immediately broke out 

 with a series of oaths, threatening all 

 sorts of things. They listened to him 

 complacently for some minutes, then 

 left his skiff on the other shore and 

 proceeded to the rest of their traps, 

 finding a good catch. 



When they came back "Sime" was in 

 a very humble and dejected state. He 

 was begging to be taken ashore from 

 his cramped position. He could not 

 stir around to keep warm, and the bit 

 of land had settled under his weight so 

 that the water was up around his knees, 

 and finally Billy was moved to a little 

 pitv. 



"Well," said he, "if we let you off, 

 will you promise not to come up this 

 stream again this year, and not to 

 touch another trap that don't belong to 

 ye?" 



"Ye-e-e-s," reluctantly responded the 

 shivering and wretched "Sime." "But 

 for Time's sake git me off'n this place, 

 quick." 



This promise was all the boys wanted, 

 for they knew that fear would make 

 him keep it if nothing else would ; 

 after taking their traps and muskrats 

 from his boat, they towed it over to the 

 island and let the unhappy and repent- 

 ant "Sime" go ashore. They then kept 

 on down the stream, resetting their re- 

 covered traps, happy with no fear of 

 future molestation in their sport. 



Sime did not reform, boys do not 

 reform on short notice; but thereafter 

 Sime committed his thefts in other 

 quarters. 



