pt. 1. Furs settle the New World -- "As fine a river as can be found" -- The precious beaver -- New Amsterdam rising -- "The Bible and the beaver" -- pt. 2. Clash of empires -- Competition, conflict, and chicanery -- "Many hounds are the hare's death" -- Adieu to the French -- Americans oust the British -- pt. 3. America heads West -- "A perfect golden round of profits" -- Up the Missouri -- Astoria -- Mountain men -- Taos trappers and Astor's empire -- Fall of the beaver -- The last robe -- Epilogue: End of an era.