the intense
cold. Then, arming himself with a heavy axe, this second Indian quietly
steps back a pace or two.

"Hush! Everybody keep still or sit down on the ice, and do not utter a
word. Do not move your feet on the ice; do not even breathe heavily,
for beavers have wonderful powers of hearing."

Promptly had everyone obeyed Mr Ross, who had uttered these commands.
He had placed the boys where they could easily see the wonderful way, in
which these experienced hunters would quickly gather up their beaver
harvest, after all their effort and toil.

But where are the beavers? They are in all probability out under the
ice, swimming about from one kitchen to another, vainly trying to find
one in which they can get their lungs full of fresh air. If the men and
those saucy little dogs have been successful in closing up all of these
resorts, vain are the beavers' efforts. For a long time these wonderful
creatures are able to keep alive under water, but there is a limit to
this ability, and then it becomes a matter of life or death to them.
Thus it now was with these beavers. They had been frightened from their
home, and had hoped to be able to obtain fresh air at places carefully
prepared for just such emergencies. But, alas! these have failed them,
and now there is nothing else to do but to make the effort to get back
to their home as soon as possible. This, they now find, is no easy
matter. A strange barricade of stakes is in the way, and there is only
one opening, and even that is a very narrow one. But they are now in
such sad straits for fresh air that they must try that one place and get
to their home or perish.

Meanwhile the boys, sitting so still and quiet on the ice, began to
think that it was getting very monotonous, especially Sam, who found it
to be extremely difficult to have to hold his tongue so long. But look!
The top of that long slender twig is being roughly shaken, and quick as
a flash down goes the naked arm of the alert Indian, and as rapidly does
it come up again, and in the strong grasp of his hand is a fine, large
beaver. With a sudden swinging movement he sends it sprawling out on
the ice, where his comrade is waiting to dispatch it with his axe.

Now the boys see the important part played by that little stick. See,
it moves again, and once more the long, naked arm is thrust down and
another great beaver is thrown out on the ice. This one, like his
predecessor, is quickly dispatche