14 BEARS AND BEAVERS. 



America, in places far beyond the settlements, does 

 not detract from the repose and fascination to be 

 found in an American forest. Mind, I do not speak 

 of the half-civilized natives, their aping of the white 

 man is a fearful trial to endure ; moreover, I have 

 invariably discovered that the savage, by contact 

 with our race, rapidly loses his own virtues, and 

 soon acquires our most repulsive national vices. 



It may seem strange to the reader that I should 

 hunt and consequently kill wild animals, fish, and 

 therefore take the lives of the lovely inhabitants of 

 the lakes and rivers, but I do so, knowing that they 

 were provided by an all-wise Creator for man's 

 support ; but when sufficient food has been obtained, 

 I stay my hand and cease to slaughter. Would that 

 all men did the same. 



There is a fascination in hunting that few can 

 stand the test of without becoming one of its 

 votaries. It is in the greatest solitudes you seek 

 large game, and generally alone you do it, while on 

 every side you are surrounded by the productions of 

 nature's hands, pure and untainted by man's devices. 

 Only those can excel in it, who devote all their 

 thought and attention to what they are employed 

 in, and be willing to endure fatigue, often thirst, 

 hunger, and exposure, before they can hope for 

 success, while the mind is ever exercised with con- 

 stant fluctuations between hope and fear that your 

 efforts will or will not be rewarded. 



Near this bluff I had a bear trap set, which once 

 rewarded me with a capture, at the same time nearly 

 cost me my life in securing it. The story is as 

 follows : 



I had been fishing one morning on the lake, and 

 my success had been greater than usual. However, 

 when the sun approached its altitude, the breeze 

 died away, and the heat became insufferable. Then 

 I resolved to land, rest for a few hours, and afterwards 



