358 THE TRAPPER. 



Imagine, then, my delight at beholding this settlement in 

 the wilderness. I could not take it all in for a long time. 

 My natural instinct led me to leeward of the pond, where, 

 sitting on a log and preyed upon by thousands of black 

 flies, I remained four mortal hours on the watch. I was 

 rewarded by seeing the beavers swimming about and 

 hauling logs through the water with their teeth. The 

 time passed so pleasantly that I never thought of going 

 home till too late to find my way back to camp. The 

 prospect of passing a night with the beavers did not, 

 however, distress me much ; and a " baby " in the most 

 hospitable and opportune way presenting himself, I shot 

 him for supper, and, adding insult to injury, proceeded to 

 cook the poor little fellow's carcase over a fire made of 

 wood, which he himself, or some other member of his 

 family, had cut for very different purposes. Here let me 

 remark that young beaver, roasted whole, is rather like 

 sucking pig, and is by no means to be despised. 



From its extreme richness and oiliness, the flesh of the 

 beaver would not be relished by the dainty stomach, but 

 in the woods and prairies, far away from civilization, that 

 organ soars above all prejudice, and I have made many a 

 hearty meal of beaver flesh without any bad result. Old 

 beaver or beaver tail is the better for being smoked. The 

 latter, I believe, is considered a great delicacy. To save 

 it, hold it over the fire for a few seconds ; the scales or 

 skin will then peel off ; put it in pickle for a few hours, 

 and then hang in the camp chimney. 



The beaver selects a little island, or shallow spot near 

 the centre of his pond, for building on. A dry bed close 

 to deep water is essential ; this is one of the ends secured 



