"Poor little creature!" he said. "This may be a punishment for my
cruelty. I know now how much pain my traps have given."
No one came and the long day went by. Night darkened, and the woods were
cold and dreary. Amos was chilled through, and thought with longing of
the warm fire at home. The little mink was still now. Amos hoped its
sufferings were over. He almost wished that his own might end in the
same way.
Suddenly, very early in the morning, there was a noise in the bushes,
and a man came towards the traps. He saw at once what was the matter and
ran to set the boy free.
"Now," said he, "you must get on my back and I will try to carry you
home."
"Wait a minute," said Amos. "I have a fellow-prisoner there in that
other trap. If he is dead, I wish you would bury him. No one shall ever
have his fur to sell, and I will never catch another animal in that
fashion."
The hunter walked over to the other trap and looked at the mink closely.
"I think it is still alive," he said.
"Put my comforter round it," said Amos. "I am going to take it home."
So the mink was carefully wrapped in the comforter and laid in the
hunter's bag. Then they started homewards. There was great rejoicing
when the missing lad appeared, and the little mink was taken out of the
bag by gentle hands and kindly cared for.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129