sight. Though there was a general cooperation, 

 yet each one appeared to do his part without 

 orders or direction. Time and again a group of 

 workers completed a task, and without pause sil- 

 ently moved off, and began another. Everything 

 appeared to go on mechanically. It produced a 

 strange feeling to see so many workers doing so 

 many kinds of work effectively and automatically. 

 Again and again I listened for the superintend- 

 ent's voice ; constantly I watched to see the over- 

 seer move among them; but I listened and watched 

 in vain. Yet I feel that some of the patriarchal 

 fellows must have carried a general plan of the 

 work, and that during its progress orders and di- 

 rections that I could not comprehend were given 

 from time to time. 



The work was at its height a little before mid- 

 day. Nowadays it is rare for a beaver to work in 

 daylight. Men and guns have prevented daylight 

 workers from leaving descendants. These not only 

 worked but played by day. One morning for 

 more than an hour there was a general frolic, in 

 which the entire population appeared to take 

 part. They raced, dived, crowded in general 

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