12 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



soft light of the moon and the twinkling of the 

 stars. Even then, they were always nervously 

 alert, each sound must be understood before it 

 could be ignored. A falling leaf floating almost 

 noiselessly to earth would cause them to desist in 

 their labours, for though they knew full well that 

 during the autumn the leaves, having fulfilled their 

 duties, bid farewell to the slender branches, yet 

 their falling might mean the stealthy approach of a 

 man who, touching the tree as he passes, shakes 

 down the dying leaves. The noiseless tread of the 

 deer as it carefully made its way over the velvet 

 carpet of moss they knew, and as it meant no harm, 

 they seldom took notice of it. No man walked 

 liked that. Even the moccasined foot of the 

 Indian made more sound, and set up a vibration 

 on the earth's surface which in no way resembled 

 the delicate footfall of the wild animals. But their 

 enemies, the powerful wolverines, the padded-footed 

 lynx, and the hungry, clever, keen-witted wolf 

 could approach without sound or warning save the 

 scent which they could not disguise. Therefore, 

 when the beaver worked, his mind was divided, 

 and he stopped at frequent intervals to listen, and 

 to test the air for signals of danger, and at the 

 slightest warning he would make his way to the 

 water which offered a safe retreat from nearly all 

 of his enemies. If the danger was imminent, he 

 and all his family could seek safety in the house, 

 and remain there perhaps for the rest of the night, 



