Part 4 (1/2)

THE INVITATION TO THE INDIAN SCHOOL EXAMINATION AND SPORTS--TRAPPING EXPERIENCES--THE CUNNING CROSS-FOX--FRANK SEEKING AID FROM MEMOTAS-- METHOD OF SUCCESSFUL TRAP-SETTING--JOYOUS TRIP TO THE MISSION--AN ABIDING CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION FOR THE INDIANS--SAM'S AND A YOUNG INDIAN'S NOVEL HUNTING METHODS--WILD CATS CAPTURED--THE QUEER BATTLE BETWEEN A FOX AND A WILD CAT

When the boys returned horeeted by Mr Hurlburt, the missionary from the Indian Mission, who cordially invited them all to the half-yearly examinations at the school, which were to be held the Friday before Christa the Indian boys in the afternoon

The boys soon found that Mr Ross and thethe matter, but had as yet coaht, if they so desired, compete with the Indian lads

Alec, of course, wanted to enter for the dog race and the skating

Frank wanted to try his skill with the snowshoes, but Saravely shook his head and said he feared he would be lonesome ere the race ended

”Well, ill you enter for?” said Frank, as he turned to Sa

”Indeed I don't know, unless it should be tobogganing,” he replied

This also caused a good deal of amusement, as Sam's efforts in this line thus far had not been ood deal of fun, and soan had several tione off on some erratic lines, perfectly oblivious to the interests of life and li on no an, under his erratic steering, fleith hient and ran over an Indian woman So unexpected was the attack, so deep was the drift into which she was hurled, and so rapidly did the flying toboggan get out of sight, that the poor, superstitious old woman ever after declared that it could have been no other than the Muche Manetoo, the Evil One, that struck her

As a couple of weeks would elapse ere the day for the examinations and sports would arrive, the matter was left in abeyance, as to the sports in which the boys should enter A cordial acceptance of the invitation was of course inti the matter over afterward it was decided that only in one race or sport should each of the white boys enter The nuht perhaps cause jealousies So it was finally decided that Alec should try with his dogs in the four-dog race, Frank should be a corace, or else enter in the skating backward contest

Fro else, Mr Ross felt that in these selected were their only chances of success Of course, it was felt that Alec should have been in the skating contest, but as it was essential that each owner should drive his own dogs, and Alec had such confidence in his now splendid teas

Mr Ross's advice to theency that entlemen in the Hudson Bay Company's service should decide to coe theht sunny days since winter had set in nearly two ave a new zest to their sports and pasti-travelling under aurora lights by night

Aed with Mean not asta-weekee was built, the boys should have the privilege of hunting in all that section of the country under his guidance when necessary, and as much alone as they desired Mr Ross secured for them about a dozen steel traps apiece, and either he or Me the animals, such as mink, marten, otter, wild cat, and especially for the different varieties of foxes that were so abundant in those regions In addition to this they were taught how to es Thus they learned much of the habits and instincts of various anihted and profited by these lessons learned out in the school of nature, as

When the boys saw the great number of tracks of the various wild animals that so speedily packed down the snow in runs in various directions through the forests, they were sanguine that great success would attend their hunting efforts But as they drove in day after day with nothing an, or soed, and told Mr Ross they were surprised at their poor success

Frank was especially mortified at his ill success He had for days set his trap for a beautiful cross-fox that he had once or twice seen

Nearly every day he found his traps sprung and the bait gone That it was the same fox Frank discovered by the fact that he had lost part of one of his hind feet This Mr Ross said doubtless happened long ago in the trap of so away, and had thus been caught by part of his foot If it were in the winter tiht he doubtless ate the part of the foot that was held in the teeth of the trap without feeling any sensation of pain, as the cold would quickly freeze it solid If he were caught in the summer time he would use the most desperate efforts to pull himself loose ere he would use his teeth, and then, of course, he would suffer eneral thing, if only caught by one foot, cuts himself off in a few hours, but in summer time he has been known to remain in a couple of days Indians often talk of clever three-legged foxes in the woods

One pleasant day Frank persuaded Meo out with hi tantalised hi fat on his bait This the old man did with pleasure, for he had become very much attached to Frank When they reached the place, to which they had co-sled, the Indian very carefully exaion around for quite a distance

He told Frank where the fox's den was, and said that now that he had becoet hold of hienerally set his traps that had been so uncere and robbed of the bait This Frank proceeded to do, and, as he thought, very quickly and cleverly sprung back and baited theh all the process, and then rather coolly took hi:

”Good trap, well set, plenty of bait; ht perhaps catch a puppy or old crow, but never fox”

This seelad that Sam was not there to improve the occasion with some further caustic remarks

When the Indian saw that Frank seemed so crestfallen at his comments he at once hastened to assure him that they all had to learn much about these anio to work and see if we cannot get that fox in a trap again, even if his half foot tells us he has been there before”

The first thing they did was to decide where to set the traps

”Not h, about that,” said Memotas ”We must first have a fire to burn all of Frank off the traps”

This was a bit of a puzzle to Frank at first, but when Memotas told Frank that every tih of himself on it for the fox to know all that he wanted to about hiible than ever

At a spot about a couple of hundred yards away from where the traps were to be set a fire was built When it was brightly burning Me the trap, had Frank fasten a good-sized piece of meat as bait securely on with a fine wire

”Now,” said Memotas, as he carefully lifted up the set trap on the end of his pole, ”ill burn old Injun and Frank off that trap and bait”