CHOOSING THE KING 15 



Brother Muskrat,&quot; commanded the Moose. &quot; I 

 can t dive under the water like you and see it 

 ready stored, but I have observed the trees cut 

 down by his chisel-teeth.&quot; 



&quot; You make me blush,&quot; remonstrated Beaver, 

 modestly. 



&quot; Beautiful White Poplar trees,&quot; went on 

 Mooswa ; &quot; and always cut so they fall just 

 on the edge of the stream. Is that not clever 

 for one of us ? Man can t do it every time.&quot; 



&quot; Trowel Tail only cuts the leaning trees 

 that s why ! &quot; explained Whisky-Jack. 



Mooswa was too haughty to notice the inter 

 ruption, but continued his laudation of Beaver s 

 cunning work. 



&quot; Then our Brother Umisk cuts the Poplar 

 into pieces the length of my leg ; and, while I 

 think of it, I d like to ask him why he leaves on 

 the end of each stick a piece like the handle of a 

 rolling-pin.&quot; 



&quot;What s a rolling-pin? &quot; gasped Jay. 



&quot; Something the Cook throws at your head 

 when you re trying to steal his dinner,&quot; interjected 

 Carcajou. 



Lynx laughed maliciously at this thrust. &quot;Is n t 

 Wolverine a witty chap ? &quot; he said, fawningly, to 

 Blue Wolf. 



&quot; I know what that cunning little end is for,&quot; 



