i8 MOOSWA 



many Beaver. Last winter he took out a Pack 

 of their thick, brown coats, and I heard him say 

 there were fifty pelts in it.&quot; 



&quot;That s just it,&quot; concurred Carcajou. &quot; I ad 

 mire Umisk as much as anybody. He s an 

 honest, hard-working little chap, and looks after 

 his family and relations better than any of us ; 

 but if there was any trouble on we couldn t con 

 sult him, for at the first crack of a Firestick, or 

 bark of a Train Dog, he s down under the water, 

 and either hidden away in his lodge, or in one of 

 the many hiding-holes he has dug in the banks 

 for just such emergencies. We must have some 

 one who can get about and warn us all.&quot; 



&quot; I object to him because he s got Fleas,&quot; 

 declared Jay, solemnly. 



&quot; Fleas ! &quot; a chorus of voices exclaimed in 

 indignant protest. 



The Coyote, who had been digging viciously at 

 the back of his ear with a sharp-clawed foot, 

 dropped his leg, got up, and stretched himself, 

 with a yawn, hoping that nobody had observed 

 his petulant scratching. 



&quot; That s silly ! &quot; declared Mooswa. &quot; A chap 

 that lives under the water have Fleas ? &quot; 



&quot;Is it? &quot;piped Whisky-Jack. &quot;What s his 

 thick fur coat, with the strong, black guard-hairs 

 for ? Do you suppose that does n t keep his 



