Left on the Labrador: A Tale of Adventure Down North

erefore by Labrador reckoning it was already evening. It was Skipper Zeb's inte

old twine you has last year Toby, lad, were not s

d Toby, "and I loses half the rabbit

storage chests, and presently produced a b

wine, whatever. 'Tis stout as a small cable. I gets un in July month from Skipper Mudge o' the schooner Lucky Hand. I asks he last fall when

so strong?" a

: "She has to be rare stout to hold some of un. The string Toby has last year were rotten, 'twere so old, and he l

ng it. "Come on, Charley! We'll set a rare lot o' snar

ng his rifle, and Charley a light ax, which Toby sel

nto the forest behind the cabin, with Charley following. "The dogs wo

h the forest behind the tangle. Charley, thrilled with a sense of adventure, followed Toby eagerly as he led the way for some time in silence. This was Charley's first

now was covered with a thick network of tracks, a

never sees so much rabbit footin'. I'm thinkin' 'tis far enough so t

asked Charley in amazement. "Th

Toby with an appraising glance. "Here's a fine run

way, indicating that rabbits had pas

oth ends and on the other side. He then laid the sapling across the runway where the runway passed between two trees, placing it in such manner that the b

work of branches, that only the gateway between the sticks, with the sapling above, would be open for the passage of rabbits,

f the twine he tied to the sapling directly over the runway, and spreading the

r un to come along and get

sked Charley, who had watched the ma

a runway where rabbits goes, and they'll go

raption like that without any reason, when they'v

ures," said Toby. "They never se

the boys had set six snares they suddenly became aware that it was nea

ey, as they turned back. "Seems to

," agreed Toby. "Havin' you along it went a wonderful lot fast

ck of fun getting off here in the woods

'tis

ow whether we hav

ok at un first thi

t wait

to ask Dad to let us have some traps, and we can trap together, a

! When can we sta

ck from goin' wit

now? We're not goi

through the timber. We m

when Toby, who was in the lead, suddenly s

excitement, as Toby pointed t

r a moment. They were large tracks-nearly large enough for those of a b

epeated, with bated breath. "Are

by. "'Tis not heavy enough for a bear, and bear tracks has nail marks. This un ha

Charley, a strange tingle c

rnered. Even a fox would do that. This track is fresh. 'Twere just made. I'm thinkin' the ly

eed Charley, quite excited a

he animal. They had gone but a short distance when Toby stopped and pointed at

k is fresh wet with the rabbit's blood. 'Tis sure a lynx. 'Tis the only

" whispered Charley, h

reed Toby. "He's right handy. We'll h

he sees us?" asked

x to stop and look before he goes, but 'twould be easy

g beast about to spring upon them. He knew that a lynx was a big cat, and he could not but wonder if, in spite of Toby's assurance, it would not attack

eyed, and peering into every shadowy recess as they advanced, he still had no thought of deserting Toby. Come what might, he was determined to see the adventure through. In this he was heroic. One who faces danger without fear

trees, when Toby without warning halted and froze where he stood. Then it was that Charley saw in