.164 ON THE FRONTIER. 



I was disgusted ! In the first place, I had lost my time 

 and trouble ; then I had lost some six pounds at least in 

 money's worth ; and, worst of all, had spoiled the trapping 

 of the largest and best-stocked beaver-pool on our range. 

 We^gave it a week's rest, and then tried it again thoroughly, 

 but never once took any fur out of it. 



How beavers can communicate with each other I, of 

 course, do not know, but that they can, no trapper doubts ; 

 certainly if a beaver gets away in any pool from a trap, it is 

 not worth while to waste time by setting any more in it that 

 season. 



I fear this account of beavers, and the trapping of them, 

 has been much less interesting to my readers than the 

 recollections it has brought to my mind have been to me ; 

 and I feel sure that many of them will think any man who 

 would voluntarily go through the exposure and hardship 

 necessary for successful beaver-trapping, and call it an 

 amusement, is an unreasonable fanatic ; but I can assure 

 them the love of beaver-trapping grows upon him who has 

 once tasted its pleasures until it becomes a most interesting 

 and fascinating pursuit. 



To a great extent it compares to nearly every other field 

 sport as chess does to most indoor games, combining the 

 maximum of skill with the minimum of chance. For in 

 undisturbed and inhabited beaver-pools, if the trapper is 

 unsuccessful, it is his own fault ; while at the same time the 

 most apparently trifling carelessness, lack of judgment, or 

 ignorance of some particular in the nature or habits of his 

 quest, will entail on him a complete failure. 



Beaver-trapping is a contest of acquired skill and 



