CHAPTER IV 



THE PERSISTENT BEAVER 



I SAW a forest fire sweeping down upon the 

 Broken Tree Beaver colony, and I knew 

 that the inhabitants could take refuge in 

 their earthy, fire-proof houses in the water. 

 Their five houses were scattered in the pond 

 like little islands or ancient lake dwellings. A 

 vigorous brook that came down from the snows 

 on Mount Meeker flowed through the pond. 

 Towering spruce trees encircled its shores. 



The beavers survived the fiery ordeal, but 

 their near-by and prospective winter food-supply 

 was destroyed. This grove of aspen and every 

 deciduous tree that might have furnished a 

 bark food-supply was consumed or charred by 

 the fire. 



Instead of moving, the colony folks spent a 

 number of days clearing the fire wreckage from 

 their pond. With winter near and streams 

 perilously low for travelling, it probably was 

 unwise to go elsewhere and try to build a home 

 and gather a harvest. 



One night, early in October, the colonists 



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