ometimes in the evening they did take them up. When
it is considered how young they were, and what a practical and busy life
they led, this cannot be surprising.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Humphrey was now after something else. He had made several traps, and
brought in rabbits and hares almost every day. He had also made some
bird traps, and had caught two gold-finches for Alice and Edith, which
they put in the cages he had made for them. But, as we said, Humphrey
was about something else; he was out early in the morning, and in the
evening, when the moon was up, he came home late, long after they had
all gone to bed; but they never knew why, nor would he tell them. A
heavy fall of snow took place, and Humphrey was more out than ever. At
last, about a week after the snow had lain on the ground, one morning he
came in with a hare and rabbit in his hand, and said:

"Edward, I have caught something larger than a hare or a rabbit, and you
must come and help me, and we must take our guns. Jacob, I suppose your
rheumatism is too bad to let you come too?"

"No; I think I can manage. It's the damp that hurts me so much. This
frosty air will do me good, perhaps. I have been much better since the
snow fell. Now, then, let us see what you have caught."

"You will have to walk two miles," said Humphrey, as they went out.

"I can manage it, Humphrey; so lead the way."

Humphrey went on till they came close to a clump of large trees, and
then brought them to a pit-fall which he had dug, about six feet wide
and eight feet long, and nine feet deep.

"There's my large trap," said Humphrey, "and see what I have caught in
it."

They looked down into the pit and perceived a young bull in it. Smoker,
who was with them, began to bark furiously at it.

"Now, what are we to do? I don't think it is hurt. Can we get it out?"
said Humphrey.

"No, not very well. If it was a calf we might; but it is too heavy; and
if we were to get it out alive, we must kill it afterwards, so we had
better shoot it at once."

"So I think," replied Humphrey.

"But how did you catch him?" said Edward.

"I read of it in the same book I did about the traps for hares," replied
Humphrey. "I dug out the pit and covered it with brambles, and then put
snow at the top. This is the thicket that the herd comes to chiefly in
winter time; it is large and dry, and the large trees shelter it; so
that is why I chose this spot. I took a large bundle of h