ING THEFT OF FIVE BEAVERS--DOGS AND MEN ON
THEIR TRAIL--SURVIVING BEAVERS ALREADY AT WORK--THE RETURN OF THE
HUNTERS--CAPTURED WOLVERINES--JOURNEY RESUMED--THE CAMP--THE CRY OF
"WOLVES!"

Allowing a number of the beavers to escape was the almost universal
custom of those northern Indian hunters. They never killed all the game
of any kind. Thus where they alone hunted, the forests continued to
yield their yearly supplies. But when the white trapper enters with his
steel traps and poisons he kills all before him, if possible, even if he
does not secure one half of it. The result is that great regions once
rich in valuable fur-bearing animals are now as completely denuded of
them as are the prairies of the once countless herds of buffalo.
Pathetic is the picture of the last of the buffalo!

The call, loud and clear, was sent by the far-reaching voice of one of
the hunters to the watchers at the camp, and speedily in answer came a
couple of trains of dogs. These were attached to the two now well-
filled sleds, and the whole party, flushed with triumph at their
success, returned to the camp. They are all in good trim for their
dinner, and speedily is it dispatched, for all these beavers must be
skinned, if possible, before they freeze.

The Indian servants of Mr Ross aid the hunters, and so the work is
rapidly done. As the flesh of the beaver is very much prized as an
article of food, the carcasses were carefully prepared. The tails were
left attached to the bodies, with the exception of a half dozen, which
were left out for the evening meal. These tails very much interested
and amused the boys, not only on account of their odd appearance, but
because of the many queer tales they had heard about them. The tail of
the beaver serves as a rudder to its owner when he is swimming. It aids
him in various ways when he is building his cozy house and marvellously
constructed dam. Next to his powerful teeth it is his best weapon of
defence, as with it he can strike a very heavy blow. Thus it was no
wonder that the boys were interested in these half dozen tails, on which
they expected to dine that evening.

The process of preparation was very simple. The tails were from twelve
to fifteen inches long and from six to eight inches in width, and about
an inch thick. They were oval-shaped, somewhat resembling in appearance
a mason's trowel. They were covered with close-fitting, fishlike
scales. The first thing necessary