"That is because we are low down," replied his friend. "We must follow up the stream till we come in sight of the dam, and then you can easily run home."
[CHAPTER V.]
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
THE two beavers walked slowly along the bank till by and by they began to smell something very strong and sweet; at least so they thought, though I doubt whether any one but a beaver would have liked the perfume.
"What is that?" inquired Binney, snuffing the air.
"Let us go and see," said his guide.
So they walked toward the edge of the water, where they saw some green twigs stuck into the mud, from which the perfume seemed to proceed. Somehow or other Binney did not like the look of these green twigs. He had never seen any set in that way, and he suspected something—he did not quite know what. "See there! What track is this upon the bank?" said he.
"A bear's, of course," said the wood-beaver, without once looking at it. If he had done so, he would have seen that no bear ever made such a track; but he was in such a hurry to reach the green twigs that he could think of nothing else.
Binney followed slowly, and it was well that he did so, for in a moment more he heard his friend scream out with pain and fear. He ran to see what was the matter.
"O, I am caught! I am caught!" cried the poor wood-beaver, pulling with all his might to get away. But his paw was fast in the iron trap, and he could not get it out.