nervously thumped the ground with his tail, as 

 his aspen slowly settled and fell. Then he went 

 into the hole beneath me. 



This year's harvest was so much larger than 

 usual that it may be the population of this colony 

 had been increased by the arrival of emigrants 

 from a persecuted colony down in the valley. 

 The total harvest numbered four hundred and 

 forty-three trees. These made a harvest pile four 

 feet high and ninety feet in circumference. A 

 thick covering of willows was placed on top of 

 the harvest pile, I cannot tell for what reason 

 unless it was to sink all the aspens below reach 

 of the ice. This bulk of stores together with num- 

 erous roots of willow and water plants, which are 

 eaten in the water from the bottom of the pond, 

 would support a numerous beaver population 

 through the days of ice and snow. 



When I took my last tour through the colony 

 everything was ready for the long and cold winter. 

 Dams were in repair and ponds were brimming 

 over with water, the fresh coats of mud on the 

 houses were freezing to defy enemies, and a boun- 

 tiful harvest was home. Harvest-gathering is full 



97 



