ON THE NYARLING 141 



small — only 8 inches in slack girth — that she could 

 easily have entered an ordinary Woodpecker hole. So 

 that it is likely the species nest in the abandoned holes 

 of the Flicker. A Redtailed Hawk had its nest on a 

 leaning spruce above the water. It was a most strik- 

 ing and picturesque object; doubtless the owner was 

 very well pleased with it, but a pair of Robins militant 

 attacked him whenever he tried to go near it. 



A Beaver appeared swimming ahead; Bezkya seized 

 his rifle and removed the top of its head, thereby spoil- 



A windlass al the mouth of Little 

 Buffalo River. July 12, 1907 



ing a splendid skull but securing a pelt and a new 

 kind of meat. Although I was now paying his wages, 

 the Beaver did not belong to me. According to the 

 custom of the country it belonged to Bezkya. He 

 owed me nothing but service as a guide. Next meal 

 we had Beaver tail roasted and boiled; it was very 

 delicious, but rather rich and heavy. 



At 3.45 we reached Gnat Slave Lake, but found the 

 sea so high that it would have been very dangerous to 

 attempt crossing to Fort Resolution, faintly to be seen 

 a dozen miles away. 



We waited till 7, then ventured forth; it was only 

 11 miles across and we could send that canoe at 5£ 



