Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/232

 Ordinarily Bud would not have visited the trap until the following morning, as it is not well to watch a trap too closely once it is set, but that same evening he had an errand on the mountain. Perhaps he made the fact that he was on the mountain searching for sassafras wood for a new bow the excuse for looking at the trap. This was no common trapping event. If successful it meant five hundred dollars.

Bud could scarce believe his eyes when he came in sight of the thicket where he had set the trap and discovered it was sprung. In fact, he did really rub his eyes and look again, but there was no mistaking the fact. The door of the trap showed plainly and it was down. Then Bud caught himself up short and chuckled. He must not get excited. It was just a fool skunk, or perhaps a rabbit had sprung the trap. There was not one chance in a hundred that he had caught the Phantom Fox at the very first try with the box trap. Bud approached the trap at a quick pace and lifted it cautiously. My, but it was heavy. That was not a