Frank in the Woods

aver

eakfast, the trapper went to the door, and, after li

it to-day. We are goin' to have a storm as is a storm, an' afore two d

and Harry concluded to make another attempt to capture the black fox; for the trapper's description of his swiftness and

ed his gun and an ax, and followed the trapper from the cabin. About noon they came to a halt on the banks of a large pond that lay hemmed in on all

the beaver. If they began to cut through the houses, the animals would take the al

ived that they did not understand it. "In the first place,

ghten out all the b

"but you must know that a beaver can't liv

which were dug into the bank, and extended upward above the level of the water, and that the beaver, wh

where these holes

an ax, an' you can tell by the sound where they are. But I fixed all that when I first diskivered this

boys were satisfied that they had made noise sufficient to drive out all the beaver, they returned to the place where they had left the trapper, and found him engaged in cutting a hole in the ice close to

nted himself with barking at the game; but Brave squeezed himself down into the opening among the beavers, and attacked them furiously. The animals made a desperate resistance, and in a few moments Brave backed out

ing besides a b

to pitch into every wild varmint he comes acrost. You must understand that a beaver can get up a tarnal good fight if he o

o the next hole, a large mink suddenly popped out from under the roots of a tree into which the trapper was chopping; and although George made a frantic blow at him with the handle of his ax, he succeeded in getting past him, and started across the pond toward the opposite shore. The boys immediately went in pursuit, George leading the way, and Frank following close behind him, brandishing his spear, and shouting

ed George, "get

n his weather-beaten countenance, expected to see Frank disappear also. But the young naturalist always had his wits about him, and summoning all his strength, he sprang into the air, and cleared the hole into which George had fallen, by an extraordinary leap, and landed on the firm ice on the opposite side. George rose almost instantly, for he was an expert swimmer; but his sudden immersion into the

n together;" and Dick threw himself on his knees, and stretched his long arm out over the water ready to catch George if he should come u

ped his game and sprang into the water. At this moment George's head appeared at the surface, and the dog seized him, when, to the horror of the hunters, both disappeared together. But

ace where Frank was kneeling, holding George in his ar

at the top of his speed; while Frank, after pulling Brave out of the water, ran back after the axes, as Dick had directed.

worked in your life, work now. Build a fire and throw up

and hung up to dry, and he was warmly wrapped up in blankets. The rubbing was continued a few moments longer, when they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes and gaze about him. Dick now left the hut. In a short time he retur

over the accident, they heard the noise of approaching footsteps

the latter, hurriedly, for he saw that Dic

t's all," replied the trapper. "Don't

saw the hole in the ice, and your guns and overcoats scattered

y assailed with innumerable questions. Among others, his brot

y drop of blood in my body was frozen solid as soon as I touched the water. But

had found the trail in the gully, followed it for a mile, then sud

he was able to travel, was allowed to put on his clothes,

e changed his wet clothes; and a strong cup of coffee, as the trapper remarked, "set him all right again." After supper, how soft and comfortable their blankets felt! They lay for a long time in silence, watching the sparks as they ar