1 
TAPPING IN NORTH, -DAKGTA 1871. > 121 
water with great flat boards. The animals and fowls 
screech and yell withadded vigor. Itisthe beaver sound- 
ing analarm; a long roll —where each and allof them 
beat an answering drum. 
When the beaver commenced alarming each other, I 
felt no elation. No buoyancy of spirits at the good trap- 
ping prospects before us. Rather a feeling of regret at 
this self assigned work. I would gladly have left this 
paradise of the wild animals undisturbed, —could I 
know that it remain so. But we three trappers rested 
here as the advance pickets ofa mighty invading host 
a 
blending or reunion of the Aryan race upon these cheer- 
less plains of western America. We were within the in- - 
tended dominion of the great railway chat was casting 
its shadow from the pine forests westward of Lake Super- 
ior. With the coming of this railroad and the human 
innundation that would follow, the beaver, buffalo and 
other wild animals must disappear. If the beaver and 
otter were to be doomed we would make the first strike. 
If we could not save we would destroy. 
At the break of day next morning Williams and 
myself with the traps-and guns took our boat and pad— 
died up the lake among the various flocks of wild fowl, 
whom,on our approach, moved leasurely out of the way. 
Five sleek looking otter followed in our rear puffing, 
snorting and diving. 
A heavy fog hung low over the water, and this togeth- 
er with our silent paddling enabled us to approach and 
take by surprise, three elks bathing in a bayou. Wil- 
liams steadied the boat, while I reached for my needle 
gun and shot a long pronged buck dead. The other 
two being cows were permitted to escape. 
