118 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



of the best bear-hunters in that region, all well armed, set out 

 in haste for the Jones's clearing. When they arrived, Jones 

 was splitting wood outside his shack. The sorrowing trappers, 

 with downcast eyes, moved slowly toward the bereaved father, 

 and Le Heup, appointed spokesman, offered their condolences 

 on the terrible death of his favourite child. Jones was com- 

 pletely dumbfounded. When it was explained to him what a 

 dreadful thing had happened to his child, he swore he had no 

 idea a bear had ever eaten any one of his children; but he was 

 willing to put their story to the proof, so as he had a lot of 

 children, he called them all out of the house to check them over. 

 To the joyful surprise of the visitors, there among them was 

 little Eva supposed to be eaten, and she even retained her 

 right hand. Thus another newspaper libel upon the poor old 

 black bear the buffoon of the forest was shown to be devoid 

 of truth; yet that story was published in the Toronto papers, 

 and, no doubt, was copied all over the United States. 



But though the black bear is a shy, playful brute, usually 

 ready for flight if danger approaches, the tyro should remember 

 that if wounded or cornered he will readily fight. Further- 

 more, if one is unlucky enough to get between a bear cub and 

 its mother, and if the cub should cry out as though you were 

 giving it pain, the mother will attack you as readily as any 

 mother would be she chicken, moose, or woman. 



THE WAYS OF THE BEAVER 



A few days later Oo-koo-hoo and Amik set out to hunt beav- 

 ers those wonderful amphibious animals of the Northland 

 that display more intelligence, perseverance, prudence, and 

 morality than many a highly civilized human being. 



In appearance the beaver somewhat resembles a greatly 

 magnified muskrat, save that the beaver's hairless, scaly tail 

 is very broad and flat. The coat of the beaver is brown, and 



