136 



THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



grouse, in which we were, however, unsuccessful, ruffed 

 grouse not being as abundant here as they were about 

 Mossup's and Rock Lake. During our stay on these lakes 

 we discovered a beaver-house which was at this time occu- 

 pied by a family of beavers. I spent a part of one evening 

 with the captain watching for this interesting family, the 

 members of which never, or at least very rarely, make their 

 appearance in the waters about their house much before 

 sunset. We arrived on the water in proximity to this 

 dwelling at the proper time, but failed to see the beaver, 

 although the captain says the acute animal saw us. The 

 statement was based on the fact that we heard a sound 

 which the captain recognized as the beaver's alarm-signal, 

 which is followed by the rapid disappearance of the master 

 of ceremonies, who neither reappears nor permits any of 

 the members to show themselves for several hours after 

 the alarm has been sounded. We remained here, keeping 

 perfectly quiet for about an hour, but heard nothing more. 



It was after dark when we reached the camp, but we 

 were informed on our return that a flock of wild geese had 

 passed over it, going southward. The sight of the geese 

 so affected George Ross that he caught up his Winchester 

 rifle and sent several bullets after them, although the pho- 

 tographer thinks that their flying was not in any manner 

 inconvenienced by the shooting of our guide. 



The afternoon of the 5th of October was spent in 

 making preparations for our departure on the morning of 

 the 6th for Lon^ Lake. We had killed more deer while 



o 



in this camp than we had consumed. The captain placed 

 one-half of the largest deer that we had killed in his canoe 



