At last vacation was over and these
pleasant pilgrimages came to an end. Paul kept the promise made to his
mother. During study time he applied himself with all his energies to
the task before him and so rapidly increased his store of knowledge;
but, he was also learning many things outside the school room. The
loneliness and surroundings of the college increased the natural
wildness of his nature. When recreation time approached, Paul would
pass the sign to the ever ready "Stockie." Then he would obtain
permission to leave the room on some pretext, and the other, by some
clever maneuver, would soon be after him. Then down to the dark, cool
pine woods to visit their "figure four" traps which they had set in
different places to catch squirrels. This trap consisted of a square box
placed on a piece of board and set with a little wooden trigger.
When a squirrel would enter to get the walnut fastened inside, he would
spring the trap and would not succeed in cutting his way out before
his young captor's arrival. They would slip a pillow-case, furnished
unconsciously by the college, under one corner of the box, turning it
off the bottom board until a little opening was made into the bag. The
squirrel of course would jump in, and was grabbed and twisted until it
was squeezed down to one corner.
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