old woman had suffered the most; but the two had sustained
themselves by eating roots and beech-mast: the little boy was quite
frightened when he saw the men coming, and hid himself; such were the
consequences of solitude and privation on his mind.

The place where they were found was in the township of Beach, at least
fourteen miles due east from the place where they were lost; and it is
more than probable, in their wanderings, that they had more than
doubled that distance--a most extraordinary circumstance, when the ages
of the parties are considered.

About three years since, two young men, with whom I was well
acquainted, went back into the uninhabited township of Methuen, to trap
for fur, and hunt deer. They set a line of marten-traps,* extending
upwards of three miles. One or other of them used to go every alternate
morning, to examine these traps--to re-set any that were sprung; and
bring back to their camp any furry animal that might chance to be
captured.

[* The method pursued by the trappers and Indians is to blaze a line
through the bush for several miles. Along this line is set, at
intervals of one or two hundred yards, a kind of trap, called a dead
fall, which is constructed thus:--Two rows of short sticks are driven
into the ground about one foot apart, open only at one end, the top
being covered with brush-wood at the entrance. A piece of wood two or
three feet long is bedded into the ground, or snow, as the case may be.
The falling pole is supported immediately over this by three pieces of
stick notched together in the form of a figure of four. The centre-
piece is made long and sharp at the point, to which the bait is
attached, and projects well into the miniature house. The marten or
fisher, allured by the bait, reaches in to snatch it, which springs the
trap, and causes the pole to fall across the neck of the animal, which
is instantly killed by the blow.]

One morning, the less-experienced trapper of the two, this being his
first season, went along the line to look at the traps, as usual. He
had his gun with him, but only two or three charges of powder. After
proceeding to the extreme end of the line, he thought he would go on
and look for some partridges, which he heard "drumming"* some little
distance a-head.

[* This sound is made by the Canadian partridge (a species of the
grouse) during its season of courtship. The cock-bird perches himself
on the top of a large hollow log, or fallen tre