If the river on which the beaver has built is so shallow that it cannot go into it without being seen, it builds a dam by which a sufficient depth of water is always secured. It works at this dam with the greatest diligence and most wonderful perseverance, collecting wood, which it lays crosswise, and binds together with brushwood, earth, and stones. It is broad at the bottom, and tapers gradually upwards, and is so strong as to resist the floods for a long time. Should the ice destroy any part of it, the diligent beaver repairs it without delay, that the structure may not be entirely destroyed.

The outlets to the water must be two or three feet below the surface, to prevent them from being closed by ice in the winter. Should the river rise so high as to threaten to overwhelm it, the beaver makes a hole through the roof, and escapes from the danger. It cannot stay long under water without breathing, in which it resembles the otter, which is one of its greatest enemies, and which often breaks into the dwelling, and destroys the young. On the land side there is no opening, as only in the most desperate case would the beaver try to escape that way; for, being unable to move quickly, it would soon fall into the power of its enemies.

The beaver has a great predilection for the home it has constructed with so much care, labour, and skill. If it be undisturbed by settlers, it remains there three or four years, or even longer. It sometimes builds a new dwell

ing in another place, or close to the old one; in which case both are connected by a subterranean passage.

When eating its food, the beaver sits up like a squirrel, but its peculiar tail rests flat on the ground. It is a mistake to suppose that it uses its tail like a trowel for plastering the walls of its house, or to carry things upon from one place to another. It seems to be of service to the animal merely for swimming, as only the hind-feet are webbed.

Ás the beaver does not eat fish, and scarcely anything else than bark, and the roots and bulbs of water plants, it spends a good deal of its time on land during the summer, and sleeps in the bushes. It collects its food only at night. Should it ever come into contact with dogs, it attacks them immediately in the most determined way with its sharp claws and teeth, and it is no uncommon thing for it to take off a dog's leg at one bite. When pursued by hunters, and unable to escape, it cries like a child in the most distressing way.

Birch and aspen bark is its most favourite food, and it bites off branches of these trees, of one or two inches thick, with the greatest

ease.

If there is a sufficient stock of food, and no fear of disturbance, two families often live together in the same place; but the stories often told of their forming villages do not seem to be generally correct, and the same must be said of the statement that whenever a lazy beaver is found, the others assemble and

turn him out of the community, so that he has to live a hermit's life. Another groundless story is, that when they are collecting wood for their houses or dams one beaver lies down on his back, and holds the piece of wood with his feet, while another drags him along like a sledge or wagon. It is surprising that such foolish stories of the cleverness of this animal should have been told and believed; for now that greater attention has been paid to its real habits, they have been found to be incorrect.

It is, however, very certain, notwithstanding the destruction of all these pretty but fanciful stories, that the beaver is one of the most intelligent animals, and it will be sincerely lamented when it shall have become as scarce in America as it is in Europe.

CHAPTER III.

THE INDIANS UPON THE TRAPPERS.

WE must skip over several months in the

history of the trappers. They had passed away in the manner described in the last chapter. Their whole time was spent in going up or down the river with the canoe, sometimes together, at other times alone, collecting the beavers which had been caught, and setting the beaver traps again; then returning to the cave to prepare the furs, and starting out again on the same business when that was done.

My readers will easily see what a very monotonous life it was. But the trappers were not discontented with it on that account. The traps were always full, the skins very good, and there was no fear of their business being interfered with by the Indians, and what could they wish more? They rather liked monotony when it was a monotony of success. The stock of skins which they had packed up ready for market, was in beautiful condition, and from frequent calculation they knew the value of it to a cent.

The summer came on rapidly, and it was very necessary that the skins should be care

i

fully looked over to prevent them from being injured or destroyed by insects, and Jack Williams's long experience was very valuable in this respect. It was a question with them whether they should leave a river which had yielded them so much, and which was not visited by any other trappers. The question was difficult to answer; for although the quality of the summer skins was far below the black ones caught in spring, the number of them was almost fabulous.

The longer they lived together, the more the trappers became attached to each other. Jack Williams looked upon Ralph as his son, and was proud of his bravery and skill, while Ralph felt that the kindness of the old trapper made up to a great extent for the loss of his father. They often spoke about the future, and Jack Williams thought that the success of the year would enable him to retire from such a fatiguing and dangerous life, and spend the remainer of his days in peace.

"You must give up this dangerous and laborious life too, my boy," he said to Ralph one day. "Your poor mother can't live alone. The dangers of this neighbourhood are increasing, and I'm afraid," he continued, "that our bullets will make a few holes in the redskins before we get home."

"What makes you think that?" said Ralph, astonished.

"I'll tell you," answered Jack Williams. "You recollect, Ralph, that we set thirty-three traps on the left bank of the river. The traps