r (pionttr* 



I imagined he would exterminate the beaver and 

 looked upon him with a lack of neighborly 

 feeling. 



Several months went by, and I had failed to 

 call upon him, but one day while passing I heard 

 him order a trapper off the place. This order was 

 accompanied by so strong a declaration of prin- 

 ciples together with a humane plea for the life 

 of every wild animal that I made haste to call 

 that evening. 



One afternoon in a pine thicket, close to the 

 lake-shore, I came upon two gray wolves, both 

 devouring beaver, which had met their death 

 while harvesting aspens for winter. The follow- 

 ing spring I had a more delightful glimpse of 

 life in the wilds. Within fifty feet of the lake- 

 shore stood a large pine stump that rose about 

 ten feet from the ground. Feeling that I should 

 escape notice if I sat still on the top, I climbed 

 up. Though it was mid-forenoon, the beaver 

 came out of the lake and wandered about nib- 

 bling here and there at the few green plants of 

 early spring. They did not detect me. They ac- 

 tually appeared to enjoy themselves. This is the 

 191 



