ge
Injun was to come this way before the snow covers the ground, our traps
would soon be carried off. Most of the Crees, however, know that they
are mine, and would think it wiser to leave them alone. We will hope
for the best; and now, Laurence, let us go and see what the wolves have
been about." Saying this, he and the boy commenced their retreat from
the wood in the same cautious way by which they had approached it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note. The bark-stone of which the old trapper spoke is the Castoreum, a
substance secreted in two glandular sacs near the root of the beaver's
tail, which gives out an extremely powerful odour, and so strangely
attracts beavers that the animals, when they scent it at a distance,
will sniff about and squeal with eagerness as they make their way
towards it. The trapper, therefore, carries a supply in a bottle, and
when he arrives at a spot frequented by the animals, he sets his traps,
baiting them with some of the substance. This is done with a small twig
of wood, the end of which he chews, and, dipping it in the Castoreum,
places it just above water, close to the trap, which is beneath the
surface, and in such a position that the beaver must pass over it to get
at the bait.

CHAPTER TWO.

PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF A WHITE WOLF--LAURENCE'S DREAM--JOURNEY TO THE
FORT OVER THE SNOW--FRIENDLY RECEPTION AT THE FORT--LAURENCE FALLS SICK.

The old trapper and his son crept cautiously among the rocks and shrubs
towards the spot where the traps had been set around their slaughtered
steeds. Moggs cocked his rifle as his keen eye fell on a large white
wolf, which, caught by the leg in one of the traps, was making desperate
efforts to free itself, and appeared every instant on the point of
succeeding. As they drew near, the ferocious animal, with its mouth
wide open, its teeth broken in its attempts to gnaw the iron trap, and
its head covered with blood, sprang forward to reach them, but the trap
held it fast.

"Keep behind me, Laurence," said Michael. "If the creature gets loose,
it will need a steady aim to bring it to the ground." Not for a moment
did the wolf turn round to fly, but again and again it sprang forward as
far as the chain would allow it.

Although old Michael knew nothing of the humanity which would avoid
allowing any of God's creatures to suffer unnecessary pain, he was
preparing to put an end to its agonies