22 BEARS AND BEAVERS. 



For a time I thought the bears had ascended some 

 of the adjoining trees, and were possibly, from an 

 elevated position in them, taking note of my actions ; 

 but, if such were the case, which trees could they be, 

 for on the bark of none could I discover their claw 

 marks, which are not difficult to detect by an observ- 

 ant eye ? Again, the question arose. Could the old 

 lady take up the log with her? Certainly it did not 

 appear possible, for it was both heavy and cumbrous. 



There was nothing for it, at length I saw, but to let 

 my dog go, and this he evidently knew as well as I 

 did, for as soon as permission was granted him off he 

 went, not hurrying, but sufficiently in advance to 

 enable me to follow. 



The direction the terrier took was almost the 

 reverse of what I had expected, but as a cedar swamp 

 lay that way, it was not improbable that the Bruins 

 would seek it in their trouble ; moreover, my terrier's 

 nose was ever wonderfully sensitive, and with such 

 large game before him was not likely to play him 

 false on such an important occasion. 



In a few minutes I was convinced that we were 

 right, for Prince's apology for a tail kept wagging in- 

 cessantly and most demonstratively. I did not now 

 require my eyes so much, for I should have ample 

 warning before entering the enemies' presence ; thus 

 we were getting over the ground at a good rate of 

 speed, when we struck a clearing caused by fire that 

 had run over the ground at no late date, for no second 

 growth had yet sprung up to cover it, when close in 

 front of me I perceived the trio, the youngsters lead- 

 ing and the parent in the rear, carrying the log in her 

 mouth, just in such a way as all have seen a New- 

 foundland or retriever carry his master's stick. 



The quarry were quite as soon aware of my pre- 

 sence as I was of theirs, for the young ones at 

 once fled and deserted their dam, while the old 

 lady dropped her load and expressed by look and 



