ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



bank and awkwardly made their way to a juicy 

 cottonwood tree. They sat upon their hind feet 

 before the chosen tree, with their hands clasped 

 about the trunk and their broad tails extended 

 behind as a prop. Then with their chisel-like 

 teeth they began rapidly cutting a groove com- 

 pletely around the trunk. As the animals bit 

 into the tree the groove was made proportion- 

 ately wider so that when the timber was entirely 

 severed the end was less rounded than rather 

 pointed. The clean-cut chips fell thick and 

 fast about the crude lumbermen's feet. When 

 the tree was nearly cut through one of the bea- 

 vers walked around it with a wise, anxious look 

 in its bright eyes. When the animals had de- 

 termined which way the tree would fall they 

 went to the opposite side and with several 

 powerful bites the wood was cut away so that 

 the tree became unbalanced. Presently there 

 was a crash ; then another crash that echoed 

 and reechoed along the stream. The beavers 

 had accomplished their self-appointed task and 

 as the tree fell they scampered back into the 

 water fearing that enemies might be attracted 

 by the sound of the falling timber. 

 [160] 



