nterior of the trap, and so render it forbidding in its
appearance. The entrance was the main contrivance, although it was not
an original idea with Frank. It was upon a plan similar to the wire
cages used for trapping rats--where the rat can easily find its way in,
but has not sufficient cunning to know the road out again. Precisely as
the wire funnel is constructed for the rats, Frank had made one of rails
for his turkeys; and waited patiently until some of them should enter
it. He placed various kinds of seeds and roots within the enclosure;
but several days passed, and no birds were taken.

"After some practice, the `bird-catcher' became able to imitate the
`gobbling' of the old cock? so exactly that at some distance off in the
woods, you could not tell but that it was one of themselves. By this
means, he could call the turkeys up to the ground where he himself lay
concealed; but the seeds he had baited his trap with were not
sufficiently enticing, and none of them would go under the rails. At
length, however, he hit upon an expedient, which was sure to succeed, if
anything could. He had shot one of the turkeys with his arrows; and
taking it into the trap, he carefully propped it up--so that it appeared
to be still alive, and busy feeding upon his bait. He then retired to
some distance; and, hiding himself among the brushwood, `gobbled' as
before. Three large birds soon made their appearance, coming cautiously
through the woods. Of course, like all wild turkeys, they were down
upon the ground--stalking along just like so many ostriches. At length,
they came in sight of the penn, and seeing one of their own kind;--
quietly feeding, as they thought, within it--they approached fearlessly,
and ran around the enclosure, seeking for an entrance. Frank lay
watching all their movements; and his heart, at this moment, was
thumping against his ribs. His anxiety did not long endure. The three
great birds soon found the wide funnel; and, without hesitating, ran up
it and appeared inside the trap. Frank sprang from his lurking-place;
and, running forward, first shut up the entrance by filling it with
stones. Then climbing upon the top, he slipped through between the
rails; and secured the birds by tying their legs together with a stout
thong of deerskin. When he had lifted them out of the trap, he again
adjusted everything--leaving the `decoy turkey' quietly feeding as
before--and shouldering his prize, he marche