12 THE MOOSE 



Not far from the covert was the first ptarmigan's 

 nest, and the hen was sitting. It was placed in the 

 open, exposed to the sun in excellent position for 

 marauding minks. It was the ptarmigan's first 

 season. Next year she would be wiser and build 

 on a hill-side among the marmots. The milk of 

 bush kindness dries early in the mink. They have 

 no sympathy. 



On this quiet lagoon, where the trappers had 

 ceased from troubling, for the reason that as yet no 

 trapper had found it out, the beavers were un- 

 molested, and could be seen in great numbers all 

 along the river banks, or dabbling in the mud at its 

 marge. One or two daring spirits investigated 

 thoroughly the wandering calf, lifting rounded noses 

 clear of the water, sniffing, and gazing at him with 

 beady, interested eyes. They knew him quite well by 

 sight, but this roaming spirit was something fresh, 

 surely ? Where was his guardian, their familiar 

 friend of years ? And satisfied that there really 

 was something untoward afoot, the investigator 

 dived quickly, and in turning over the strong wide 

 tail hit the water with a smack, a " save yourselves " 

 signal, which sent every beaver scuttling. 



The calf would have liked to see the beavers 



