NOTES BY THE WAY. 145 



gentle grade to the surface of the water on the north. 

 One could see that the little architect hauled all his 

 material up this easy slope, and thrust it out boldly 

 around the other side. Every mouthful was distinctly 

 defined. After they were two feet or more above the 

 water, I expected each day to see that the finishing 

 stroke had been given and the work brought to a 

 close. But higher yet, said the builder. December 

 drew near, the cold became threatening, and I was 

 apprehensive that winter would suddenly shut down 

 upon those unfinished nests. But the wise rats knew 

 better than I did ; they had received private advices 

 from headquarters, that I knew not of. Finally, 

 about the 6th of December, the nests assumed com- 

 pletion ; the northern incline was absorbed or carried 

 up, and each structure became a strong massive cone, 

 three or four feet high, the largest nest of the kind I 

 had ever seen. Does it mean a severe winter? I 

 inquired. An old farmer said it meant " high water," 

 and he was right once, at least, for in a few days 

 afterward we had the heaviest rain-fall known in 

 this section for half a century. The creeks rose to 

 ui almost unprecedented height. The sluggish pond 

 became a seething, turbulent water-course ; gradually 

 the angry element crept up the sides of these lake 

 dwellings, till, when the rain ceased, about four 

 o'clock, they showed above the flood no larger than 

 a man's hat. During the night the channel shifted 

 till the main current swept over them, and next day 

 tot a vestige of the nests was to be seen ; they had 

 10 



