the water, he cannot remain long, without coming to the
surface to take breath; and already the heads of several were seen at
different points in the lake. Others, again, had boldly climbed out on
the little islets which here and there appeared above water, and where
they knew that the wolverene, who is not a good swimmer, could not reach
them. None of them, however, showed any signs of returning to the
breastwork.

"The wolverene seemed also to have arrived at this conclusion; for now--
apparently careless of being seen from the lake--he looked around him on
all sides and above, as if he either intended giving up the pursuit of
his prey, or adopting some more effective measure to secure it. At
length he appeared to have formed some resolution, and leaping boldly up
on the parapet, so as to be seen by the beavers, he walked back again
along the water's edge whence he had come. On getting a good distance
from the breastwork, he stopped for a moment; and then, turning away
from the lake, ran off into the woods.

"I was curious to see whether the beavers would now return to the
breastwork, and I resolved to remain a while longer without showing
myself. I waited about five minutes or more, at the end of which time I
saw several of them--who had gone to the most distant islets--plunge
into the water and come swimming towards me. As I was watching them,
all at once I heard a rustling among the fallen leaves near the dam; and
on looking I perceived the wolverene making all the haste he could
toward the breastwork. On reaching it, however, instead of running out
behind the parapet as before, I saw him plant his long claws against a
tree, and commence climbing upward, keeping on that side farthest from
the lake. The branches of this tree stretched horizontally out, and
directly over the breastwork. In a short time the wolverene had reached
the fork of one of these; and, crawling out upon it, he laid himself
flat along the branch and looked downward.

"He had scarcely settled himself on his perch, when half-a-dozen
beavers--thinking from what they had seen that he must have gone clear
off--climbed out upon the breastwork, flapping their great tails as they
came. They were soon under the very branch, and I saw the wolverene
with his legs erected and ears set for the spring. This was my time;
and glancing up the barrel of my rifle, I aimed directly for his heart.
At the crack, the astonished beavers leaped back into th