This evening the bag at his feet proved by its
bulk that it contained just about one-half the rats Dannie carried.
"I must set my traps in my own way," answered Dannie calmly. "If
I stuck them into the water ony way and went on, so would the rats.
A trap is no a trap unless it is concealed."
"That's it! Go on and give me a sarmon!" urged Jimmy derisively.
"Who's got the bulk of the rats all winter? The truth is that my
side of the river is the best catching in the extrame cold, and you
get the most after the thaws begin to come. The rats seem to have
a lot of burrows and shift around among thim. One time I'm ahead,
and the nixt day they go to you: But it don't mane that you are any
better ~trapper than I am. I only got siven to-night. That's a
sweet day's work for a whole man. Fifteen cints apace for sivin
rats. I've a big notion to cut the rat business, and compete with
Rocky in ile."
Dannie laughed. "Let's hurry home, and get the skinning over before
nicht," he said. "I think the days are growing a little longer. I
seem to scent spring in the air to-day."
Jimmy looked at Dannie's mud-covered, wet clothing, his blood-
stained mittens and coat back, and the dripping bag he had rested
on the bridge. "I've got some music in me head, and some action in
me feet," he said, "but I guess God forgot to put much sintimint
into me heart. The breath of spring niver got so strong with me that
I could smell it above a bag of muskrats and me trappin' clothes.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103