At Whispering Pine Lodge

t been adding a few finishing touches tuh this here trap scheme. I got a little idea while I was alookin' the ground over, and reckoned I could fix it

sure. Three times out of four a stranger, prowling around with meagre light to guide him, would

throw it across a limb o' this tree. Yuh notice that it's got an easy runnin' slip-noose at the end, don't yuh? That I'

e noose just as he wanted it, close to the ground, and on little wooden crotches he had arranged

nterested himself in what he was saying, and as Max quickly noticed, even neglecting to speak as he usually did, although he

bed had used before in order to test the accuracy of his figuring. This he inserted in the noose, and th

d immediately the wooden "dummy" was jerked out of Obed's hands, to be drawn up unt

han the way you've arranged your trap. And what was all that rattling sound about? What's holding on to the

cause his trap had worked well enough to call fo

nd see," he

descent, a sheer drop of perhaps twenty feet. Down this slope they followed the rope with their eyes and then discovered it was attached to a large and heavy barrel that could almo

ittle scheme. It may have been original with him; and then again possibly he had borrowe

ked, as must be the case, should any one get a foot caught in the noose, it released a stake that kept the heavy barrel poised there at the top of the descent. The consequence was that it would plunge downward almost as thou

ease, Obed," pleaded Steve, who seemed to b

. "Workin' all by myself I've had tuh take the rocks out each time before I coul

easonable request; and between them all the heavy barrel was slowly pushed up

d also if necessary; but just then he wanted to observe Obed, and draw ce

t would take the place of a man's lower extremities. Steve did so well that he, too, by a little jerk displaced the

sequence was that when the billet of wood was plucked from his grasp with such swiftness, and dr

kicking, squirming human figure. "And say, it worked as fine as silk, didn't it? Obed, you've done yourself proud with

off so successfully. Nothing would do but that Bandy-legs and Toby Jucklin in addition should be given the s

d Max, upon being appealed to for his opinion; but he did

ion and held there with the stake. When the proper time came, it would

shown?" asked Steve, when Obed asked

ement which consisted for the most part of a very heavy log. Stev

rap, such as they use in most places

pleased at the answer

oor bear by its sheer weight. Now, I've tried to rig my trap up so it'll simply make a prisoner o' the creeper. I'll show yuh just how it works. I've got a dummy here, too, tha

if the dummy had really been a man, he would have found himself caught tightly in the log t

asked Steve, after they had further examined the dead

se I might think up a few more if I reckoned it'd be necessary. But I've got a hunch that one o' the lot is agoin' tuh grab that thief, providin' he

as the very time you'd feel scariest, when it was dark, and

how hard it'd be for a stranger to lay hands on them. Now, in the daytime, if they came along, with me away from the place, a man with a rifle coul

's eyes give way to a sterner look; as though he had brooded more or less over this same subject

warm reception, it did seem as though there would be hardly any necessity for them to waste their precious time in sitting up and keeping watch, wh

e stopped the other, and pointed out something he wished Max to see; so possibly the delay

tty ingenious maker of snares, that's su

give him great credit for it, even if his

's evident this same Obed must have inherited that strain from a long

panion queerly, and s

al streak of genius all his own, which doesn't have to depend on any inhe

nk a little the same way as Bandy-legs, perhaps, and suspect Obed of being more than he lets on? Is that it, Max? Do you really believe he's playing some sly trick on us?

e to make a mess of things. Besides, you know, it wouldn't be just fair to Obed to have us all suspecting him of playing tricks. Just go on as

e had apparently forgotten his newly awakened suspicions, for he was entering into the general conversation as heartily as ever. Still, Max noticed, with amusement, that from time

culinary skill, and wished to show their host the full list of their accomplishments as camp cooks. Besides, they believed that among their abundan

others to "beware of the Greeks bearing gifts," for there might be a base motive hiding behind all that glib praise. Steve protested that he meant every word of it; but then it was wel

ly impossible to eat another single bite, for fear of the consequences, they spent a ver

heard from the old sea captain, who, during his life on the Seven Se

hough perhaps there may have been still another reason for his quiet chuckling. Steve caught him at it several times, and eyed the other in per

aps were set right. Max offered to keep him company, and together they sauntered forth,

a big surprise, when he sees fit to spring it on us; but for the life of me I can't guess what it can be. Oh! shucks! what's the use of bothering any mor

Obed showed how the concealed bunks could be made ready, and, all of them were loud in their expressions of satisfaction over having such comfortable lodgings for the ni

l they were rudely aroused, perhaps some hours later on. The last thing Steve remembered hearing as he rolled himself up in his blanket was the

his bunk. The blow almost knocked Steve back again as he had been before, and must have hurt considerably; bu