only time that I ever saw a beaver fully at eas 

 and apparently happy on land. In the midst of 

 their pleasures, a flock of mountain sheep came 

 along and mingled with them. The beaver paused 

 and stared ; now and then a sheep would mo- 

 mentarily stare at a beaver, or sniff the air as 

 though he did not quite like beaver odor. In less 

 than a minute the flock moved on, but just as 

 they started, a beaver passed in front of the lead 

 ram, who made a playful pretense of a butt at 

 him ; to this the beaver paid not the slightest 

 heed. 



During the homesteader's second summer he 

 concluded to raise the outlet ridge, deepen the 

 water, and make a fish pond of the lake. Being 

 poor, he worked alone with wheelbarrow and 

 shovel. The beaver evidently watched the pro- 

 gress of the work, and each morning their fresh 

 footprints showed in the newly piled earth. 

 Shortly before the dam was completed, the home- 

 steader was called away for a few days, and on 

 his return he was astonished to find that the 

 beaver had completed his dam! The part made 

 by the beaver suited him as to height and length, 



192 



