STRUGGLES OF A BEAVER. 181 



and climb up the bank, which at this place was some- 

 what abrupt. 



" A beaver ! " exclaimed Pierre ; " he's caught in a 

 trap." 



Gaultier was just about to swing himself down from 

 his perch in order to secure this their first trophy from 

 the lake, when old Jake seized him by the arm and 

 hissed in his ear, 



" What in thunder makes yer want to show yer ugly 

 pictur down thur ? Stay hyur, can't yer ? an' not start 

 the hull lot o' beaver back to thur lodges." 



Somewhat crestfallen at this rebuke, the young 

 hunter again seated himself, and with his companions 

 watched the struggles of the trapped animal. Now 

 and then, at intervals, along the margin of the lake 

 indications were not wanting of the success which 

 attended their first night's trapping. 



" That coon's about played out," said Jake, pointing 

 towards the beaver which had first attracted their 

 attention ; " I guess he'll go under arter another snort 

 or two. Wagh ! he's a'most choked. Did yer hear 

 that ar gulp ? I reck in he never was afraid o' water 

 before he ran agin this child." 



Presently the efforts of the drowning beast became 

 fainter and fainter, and soon ceased altogether. The 

 water resumed its wonted calm, and nothing remained 

 to indicate that a struggle for existence had taken place 

 in the tranquil and treacherous element. 



This scene was being enacted at many portions of 



