3n 



Not a single stone or handful of mud was used. 

 When completed it appeared like a windrow of 

 freshly raked shrubs. It was almost straight, but 

 sagged a trifle downstream. Though the water 

 filtered freely through, it flooded the flat above. 

 As the two new houses could not shelter all the 

 refugees, it is probable that some of them were 

 sheltered in bank tunnels, while room for others 

 may have been found in the old houses. 



That winter the colony was raided by some 

 trappers ; more than one hundred pelts were se- 

 cured, and the colony was left in ruins and almost 

 depopulated. 



The Moraine Colony site was deserted for a 

 long time. Eight years after the fire I returned 

 to examine it. The willow growth about the 

 ruins was almost as thrifty as when the fire came. 

 A growth of aspen taller than one's head clung to 

 the old shore-lines, while a close seedling growth 

 of lodge-pole pine throve in the ashes of the old 

 forest. One low mound, merry with blooming 

 columbine, was the only house ruin to be seen. 



The ponds were empty and every dam was 

 broken. The stream, in rushing unobstructed 

 164 



