blows, and thus it was that I
was able to drive it home without much noise.

At first it went in so easily that I was about to select a fresh place,
but it soon became harder and firmer, and when I had done and felt the
head it was quite immovable, and held the ring close down to the stones.

My idea had been to cover the trap with a handful or two of hay, but it
was so dark that I thought I would leave it, as it was impossible to see
it even from where I looked. I left it, meaning to come the next
morning and set it free with a file, for I did not want to take up the
peg, and I could get another for lever and join the chain with a strong
padlock the next time.

It was about eleven o'clock when I had finished my task, and I did not
know whether to be pleased or alarmed. I felt something like a boy
might who had set a bait at the end of a line to catch a crocodile, and
was then very much alarmed for fear he should have any luck.

I crept away and waited, thinking a great deal about Piter, and what
would be the consequences if he walked over the trap, but I argued that
the chances were a hundred thousand to one against his going to that
particular spot. Besides, if I left him chained up Uncle Bob was not
likely to unloose him, so I determined to run the risk, and leave the
trap set when I went off guard.

The time went slowly by without any alarm, and though I went now and
then cautiously in the direction of my trap it had not been disturbed,
and I came away more and more confident that it was in so out of the way
a part of the yard that it might be there for weeks unseen.

I felt better after this, and at the appointed time called Uncle Bob,
who took his watch, and when he called me in the morning the wheel was
turning, and the men were coming up to their work.

"I thought you were tired, Cob, so I let you lie till the last moment."

I was so stupid and confused with sleep that I got up yawning; and we
were half-way back home before, like a flash, there came to me the
recollection of my trap.

I could not make an excuse and go back, though I tried hard to invent
one; but went on by my uncle's side so quiet and thoughtful that he made
a remark.

"Bit done up, Cob! You ought to have another nap after dinner."

"Oh, I'm all right, uncle," I said, and I went on home with him to have
steel-traps for breakfast and think of nothing else save what they had
caught.

For I felt perfectly sure that someone had com