only time that I ever saw a beaver fully at ease 

 and apparently happy on land. In the midst of 

 their pleasures, a flock of mountain sheep came 

 along and mingled with them. The beaver paused 

 and stared; now and then a sheep would mo- 

 mentarily stare at a beaver, or sniff the air as 

 though he did not quite like beaver odor. In less 

 than a minute the flock moved on, but just as 

 they started, a beaver passed in front of the lead 

 ram, who made a playful pretense of a butt at 

 him; to this the beaver paid not the slightest 

 heed. 



During the homesteader's second summer he 

 concluded to raise the outlet ridge, deepen the 

 water, and make a fish pond of the lake. Being 

 poor, he worked alone with wheelbarrow and 

 shovel. The beaver evidently watched the pro- 

 gress of the work, and each morning their fresh 

 footprints showed in the newly piled earth. 

 Shortly before the dam was completed, the home- 

 steader was called away for a few days, and on 

 his return he was astonished to find that the 

 beaver had completed his dam ! The part made 

 by the beaver suited him as to height and length, 

 192 



