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TRAPPING IN NEBRASKA 1866-7. 111 
the ‘‘stolen’’ ones were found nicely plastered against the 
breasts of the dams to do duty as material in making 
needed repairs. 
These observations led us to take up the line and bring 
Our traps to camp as it was useless to contend against old 
beaver with bright traps, and an exposure to the air and 
a rust varnish became necessary. 
In the meantime while rambling around, we discover- 
ed atemporary balm from disappointment at the shrewd- 
ness of Castor Fiber. It was the finding of an immense 
orchard of the wild plum. The fruit wasripe, and the 
trees thickly interspersed, with red and green,—the red 
fruit and green leaves, and some were of the yellow color. 
These wild plum groves are found along every con- 
siderable stream in the country of the Great Plains, and 
the fruit is highly prized by the housewives of the border, 
for jelly and preserves. The plums are of many excellent 
flavors, and range from the hickory nut to the walnut 
in size. 
To eat plums and more thoroughly enjoy the prospect, 
we moved our camp to the grove. In this move we dis- 
turbed several wolves and coyotes, who had themselves 
een camping around and eating the ripe fruit as a need- 
ed change from almost constant meat diet. They would 
sit around in the daytime on distant hills in silent watch- 
ing, but when night came manifested their displeasure at 
our presence by mournful howling. 
After spending about a week in the plum camp; we 
were surprised one morning by a new set of visitors —a 
band of elk. They were nine in number, and taking their 
time feeding leisurely along the creek. 
The band had passed camp unnoticed, but as soon as 
