The Boy Trapper

ard Lester rode over and took dinner with them; and that was the last of their visiting. The boys could see nothing to admire in one another. Don and Bert were a little

e found that there were some fellows there who knew just as much as he did, who rode horses and wore clothes as good as his own, and who had some very decided opinions and were in t

would have induced him to call upon them. He rode slowly in order to postpone the interview as long as he could, but the General's barn was reached at last, and the hostler, who came forward to take his nag, told him that Don and Bert had just gone into t

isitor, after the greeting was over and he had seated himself in the chair which Bert

had almost too much exercise, and t

excitement, to

he ducks had begun to come in any yet,

ou sho

and we were only too glad to do so

not accustomed to shooting large game," said Lester, loftily. "You ought t

o see if they could find the animal, and that they would be glad to have his assistance; but on second thought he concluded that he would say nothing about it.

or, drawing an official envelope from his pocket. "We talk of gett

ng it up, and what is the

ntimate relations, and another is to protect the game. Perhaps I can give you no better idea of the propose

d it in his best style. He glanced at his auditors occasionally while he was reading the paper, and when he came to a certain paragraph, the one upon which he and Bob had expended the most time and thought, he told h

and poachers, and stop the practice, which is so common, of

birds hereinafter described, to wit: pheasant (T. Scolopax); partridge (Picus Imperialis); rabbit (Ortyx Virgiana); and red deer (Canis Lupus). The penalty for disobedience shall be a fine of ten dollars for the first offence, twenty for the second, thirty for

plied with the request, and as he folded the paper very deliberately waited for his

ruth, if I do say it myself, that there is not another fellow in the settlement who could have done it. Of course it

on. "But I can't join such an organization as that. I'm a pot-hunter myself.

are not a

in every field and piece of woods

Lester, after thinking a moment, "and say

hings as market-shoo

r. "There are persons here, who are catchin

and I got him the job. It wouldn't look very well for me

ason to change your mind lately, and that

en't chang

g you know there will be no b

with my pointer and shoot birds enough for breakfast. I'll leave more in the fields, too, than you can bag in six months," added Don, and Bert saw the

n once. A few days in the calaboo

ld put h

club

's authority for

ion and tapped it with his

do with it," said Don, who could sca

e you our preside

lub than he had done before. He did not snap up the bait thus thrown out, as Lester hoped he would.

r a few nights, and if at any time you decide t

answered Don.

t accompanied him to the door. The first que

ird in the world whose L

ommon sense and a little knowledge, but I declare he possesses neither. It beats the world how he has got things mixed. Just listen to this," added Don, consulting his note-book. "He speaks of a pheasant and calls it T. Scolopa

all them quails

used to be called cock-of-the-woods, but the name was twisted around until it became woodcock, and some people believe that he is the gamey little bird we so much delight to shoot and eat. But they belong to different orders, one being a climber and the other a wader. Lester speaks of a rabbit, not knowing that there is no such thing as a wild rabbit

t get one of t

n or fine another boy because he didn't do just to suit him, is too ridiculous to be believed. That particular paragraph was probably copied after some old game law Lester read years ago; but he ought to know that before a sportsman's club, or any other organizat

of such a fellow as David Evans. Lester was sorry now that he had not given David a good thrashing when he met him in the road that morning, and told himself that he would do it the very next time he put eyes on him and risk the consequences. The thought had scarcely passed through his mind when the opportunity was presented. He met David coming along the road in company with his brother Dan. David did not seem to remember th

knew it, this thing isn't settled yet. I'll write to that man to-night, telling him, that the parties to whom he gave the contract can't catch the birds, and the

les that lay between Don's home and Bob's, and in a few minutes Lester di

he can't join a club of this kind, because, having got David the job of trapping the quails, he can't go back on him.

g he and his pale-faced brother do is just right. Did he say anyth

a w

rawing a long breath of relief, "for

ons? If you do, you know one whom nobody is afraid to trust. Bert wanted to live in peace, and thought it a good plan to quell disturbances, instead of helping them along. He knew that if he told his brother what had happened in the post-office, there would be a fight, the very first time Don and Bob met, and Bert didn't believe i

n their eyes. Bert was so astonished that he couldn't say a word, and Don never took his gaze off my face while I was reading. When I got through he asked me to read that clause with the Latin and Greek in it over again, so that he could copy the names in his note-book. He'll learn th

matter that doesn't interest me. Is Dave Evans going to make that hundred and

the quail ourselves. In that way we may be able to make up the fifty dozen without setting any of our own traps. We'll write to that man, as you suggested, and when Dave finds he can't catch any birds, he'll get discouraged and leave us a clear field. But first I want to touch up Don and

your man,"

s over, the two boys went back to the wagon-shed, where they sat and talked until it began to grow dark. Then Bob brought a couple of paddles out of the corner of the wagon-shed, handed one to his companion, and the two walked slowly down the road. When they were out

om danger. Don Gordon's hounds were noted watch-dogs, and any prowlers they discovered were pretty certain to be severely treated. But there was no flinching on the part of the two boys. Bob led the way almost on his hands and knees, stopp

ar of such luck?

feeling of the chain with which the sail-boat was fas

p? That's what bothers me. Perhaps Don

come too far to back out now. I wouldn't do

eful when you cast off that chain. You know that so

ere was anything going on. Bob, who knew just where the shooting-box was located, sat in the stern and did the steering, at the same time assist

let's make sure that everything is

es on the shore loomed up darkly against the sky, and presented the appearance of a solid wall of ebony. Lester could not see anything that looked like a shooting-box, but Bob kne

ed Lester, when the two had dise

," replied Bob, "and I'll

e could scarcely have been more surprised if he had found himself inside a little palace. The shooting-box was not a shanty, as he expected to find it, but a conveniently-arranged

re here shooting over their decoys. Joe Packard says so, at any rate. They have mattresses and bed clothes in the bunks, a carpet and rugs on the f

pity to break

out of our pockets and put it into those of th

grew angry every time he tho

y the aid of Bob's pocket knife, Lester standing by and burning matches to light him at his work. More kindling wood was placed upon the shavings, dry stove wood was piled upon the top of

other," said he. "Then you can't say

ed off and laid out all their strength on the paddles, but before they could reach the jetty the flames burst through the roof of the shooting-box, and the lake was lighted up for a quarter of a mile around. But no one saw it,