exposed. One day in October while passing the 

 lake, I noticed a coyote on the farther shore stop 

 suddenly, prick up his ears, and give alert atten- 

 tion to an agitated forward movement in the 

 shallow water of a canal. Then he plunged into 

 the water and endeavored to seize a beaver that 

 was struggling forward through water that was 

 too shallow for his heavy body. Although this 

 beaver made his escape, other members of the 

 colony may not have been so fortunate. 



The drouth continued and by mid-October the 

 lake went entirely dry except in the canals. Off in 

 one corner stood the beaver house, a tiny rounded 

 and solitary hill in the miniature black plain of 

 lake-bed. With one exception the beaver aban- 

 doned the site and moved on to other scenes, I 

 know not where. One old beaver remained. 

 Whether he did this through the fear of not 

 being equal to the overland journey across the 

 dry rocky ridge and down into Wind River, or 

 whether from deep love of the old home associa- 

 tions, no one can say. But he remained and en- 

 deavored to make provision for the oncoming 

 winter. Close to the house he dug or enlarged 



102 



