214 WAITING IN THE WILDERNESS 



hundred years old says that he drove it with 

 his tail. The beaver's tail is rubbery, is a 

 good stuffed club, but would hardly do for pile 

 driving. 



Then to this assembled and attentive beaver 

 family I would read that beavers saw trees down 

 with their tails, that they may claim relationship 

 to the sawfish; and read still further that a 

 beaver skilfully uses his tail as a trowel and 

 might thus be eligible to join the masons' 

 union. 



When they had stopped laughing and rolling 

 about with amusement, I would read very sol- 

 emnly to them that they were the greatest 

 weather prophets on earth, and that so long as 

 beavers live the Weather Bureau is one hundred 

 per cent, non-essential. After their faces had 

 become solemn and prophetic, I would read fur- 

 ther that the weather for months to come can be 

 known in advance each winter by the quantity 

 of winter food harvested, by the thickness of 

 mud plastering put on the house, and by other 

 dependable autumn preparations. 



If after all these they were not yet asleep, 

 I might read the whopper of all. But first 

 let us remember that the beaver does know a 

 number of things. Most beavers build a sub- 

 stantial dam and a house that, with repairs, lasts 

 for years; they dig wonderful canals; and they 



