88 Thirty Years 



the vicinity of this lake, but none of the migratory- 

 birds appeared near to the houses before the 15th, when 

 some swans flew over. These are generally the first 

 that arrive ; the weather had been very stormy for the 

 four preceding days, and this in all probability kept 

 the birds from venturing farther north than where the 

 Indians had first seen them. 



In the middle of the month the snow began to waste 

 daily, and by degrees it disappeared from the hills and 

 the surface of the lake. On the 17th and 19th the 

 Aurora appeared very brilliant in patches of light, 

 bearing N.W. An old €ree Indian having found a 

 beaver lodge near to the fort, Mr. Keith, Back, and I, 

 accompanied him to see the method of breaking into 

 it, and their mode of taking those interesting ani- 

 mals. The Icftlge w:ts constructed on the side of a 

 rock in a small lake, having the entrance into it be- 

 neath the ice. The frames were formed of layers of 

 slicks, the interstices being filled with wood, and the 

 outside was plastered with earth and stones, which 

 the frosl had so completely consolidated, that to break 

 through required great labor, with the aid of the ice 

 chisel, and the Other iron instruments which the hea- 

 ver hunters use. The chase, however, was UD8UC- 



ci in!, as the beaver had previously evacuated the 



lodge. 



The firal '■'•ese we i.hseTved flying near to the tort 



