as a sentry, now ran out upon the log, and struck the
water three quick heavy flaps with his tail. This was evidently a
signal; for, the moment he had given it, the animal, as if pursued,
pitched himself head-foremost into the lake, and disappeared. The rest
started as soon as they heard it; and looking around for a moment, as if
in affright, they all ran to the bank, and plunged simultaneously under
the water--each of them striking a blow with his tail as he disappeared!

"I now looked for the cause of this sudden movement. All at once I
perceived, coming around the lake where the sentry-beaver had
disappeared, a strange-looking animal. It moved slowly and silently,
skulking among the trees, and keeping close in upon the water's edge. I
saw that it was making for the new-built dam, and I remained where I was
to watch it. At length it reached the breastwork, and crawled
cautiously along it, keeping behind the parapet--so as not to be seen
from the lake above.

"I had now a good view of it, and a vicious-looking creature it was. It
was not much larger than one of the beavers themselves; and in some
points not unlike them; but in other respects the difference was marked.
It was of a very different colour--being nearly black upon the back and
belly, while a light brown strip traversed both its sides, meeting over
its rump. Its nose and feet were completely black, while its breast and
throat were white, and a whitish ring was around each of the eyes. It
had small ears, with stiff bristles at the nose, and a short and bushy
tail. The hair over its whole body was long and shaggy. Its legs were
thick and muscular, and so short that, when it moved, its belly seemed
to trail along the ground. It appeared rather to crawl than to walk--
but this arose from the fact of its being an animal of the plantigrade
family; and using its feet to walk upon--which in many other animals,
such as the horse, appear to form part of the legs. With the animal in
question the feet were long, black, and armed with white curving claws.
Its whole appearance was that of a carnivorous creature--in other words,
it was a beast of prey. It was the _Wolverene_, the dreaded enemy of
the beavers.

"On arriving near the middle of the breastwork, it stopped; and,
planting its forefeet up against the parapet, raised its head slowly,
and looked over into the lake.

"Although the beaver is an amphibious animal, and spends full half of
his time in