[* These meadows are to be found within two or three miles of each
other on almost every creek or small stream in Canada West. Those
industrious animals, the beavers, build their dams across the creeks in
a very ingenious manner, with clay and brush-wood. It is very
astonishing what ingenuity they display, and what sagacity, almost
amounting to reason, they show in the choice of situation for the
erection of these dams. It has been asserted that some years ago, when
the French were masters of the country, the Indians cut away the dams,
and killed all the beavers they could possibly find, as they did not
wish the reservoirs where the beavers bred to fall into the hands of
their white brethren. The size of these meadows varies from two or
three acres to two or three hundred, and in some few cases is much
larger.]

We joined in the chase with the greatest alacrity, but not in time to
witness the first set-to between these savage opponents; for while we
were gaining the brow of the hill a desperate fight was going on only a
few yards from us. Neptune sometimes having the best of it sometimes
Bruin. I found it quite impossible to fire for fear of killing the dog.
We then tried to pull him off so as to enable me to shoot the bear.
This we found equally difficult, the dog had such fast hold of his
throat. He was, indeed, perfectly furious.

Dennis, by my direction, cut a strong pole twelve or fourteen feet
long, which we laid across the brute's back, and pressed him down as
tightly as we could, which, with the able assistance of Nep. kept my
gentleman tolerably quiet till the old man cut and twisted a couple of
withes, which he passed under the bear, near the hind and forelegs, and
secured him firmly to the pole, which my companions lifted on their
shoulders, from which the beast now hung suspended, and commenced our