e off. They hurried away as fast as their little
legs could carry them through the light snow to a spot near the shore.
Here they began making the snow fly as rapidly as was possible with
their fore paws. One of the Indians assisted them by utilising his
snowshoe as a shovel, and, sure enough, there at the very edge of the
ice they found a mass of rushes and grass most cunningly arranged, with
a little space in the centre where it was open water. This was a
beaver's kitchen that had been so cunningly discovered by the keen scent
of the little dogs.

As soon as it had been discovered the Indians quickly picked up the
little dogs and stowed the shivering creatures in warm bags on their
backs. Now the boys were able to see the use to which these great big
pounders, hewn out of the young birch trees, were put. With both of
them the men began vigorously pounding down the coarse grass and rushes,
and left the place so exposed that in a few hours it would be so solidly
frozen over that not a particle of air could enter.

Leaving this kitchen now completely destroyed, they began skirting the
shore for a little distance up farther from the beaver house. Once more
they lifted the little dogs out of the warm bags and placed the
shivering animals on the ice. Then again the cry rang out, "Umisk!
Umisk!" The result was as before. Like as an electric shock these
words acted upon these queer little dogs, and at once they seemed to
forget all about the cold and most vigorously set to work, and in a very
few minutes had discovered another kitchen. This one was destroyed in
the same manner as was the first.

Thus on and on they cautiously prospected and worked. At one place
where they had gone but a short distance from the last kitchen
destroyed, suddenly one of the little dogs obstinately turned back and
rushed to a spot where even the most experienced Indian had not the
slightest suspicion of anything being, until the keen instinct of the
dog discovered it. Following up the little fellow to the spot where he
was now barking most furiously, the men had not dug long in the snow
before they found the most cunningly hid away kitchen on the whole pond.
So large was it, and so well arranged as the breathing place of a large
number of beavers, that the hunters declared that if they had let that
single one escape them they would have completely failed when they made
their attack upon the beaver house. This sharpness on the part o