82 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



Let us choose an imaginary beaver, a young 

 male, and follow him on what presumably would 

 be his life. He is two years old and he has his 

 way to make in the beaver world. No longer may 

 he remain beneath the parental roof, for that is 

 taxed to the limit of its capacity, and as his 

 brothers and sisters have had to go off into the 

 wilds to shift for themselves, so also must he. 

 Two summers ago he was a mere kitten, dependent 

 on his parents, too small to work, and without 

 much knowledge. But the time has not been 

 wasted. He has seen what work is required by 

 those who would thrive, and he has helped in all 

 the various labours. He has seen how dams should 

 be built, trees felled, lodges made and repaired. 

 He has, in fact, served his apprenticeship, and is 

 now but little below full size, while his strength is 

 equal to any demands that may be made upon it. 

 But he is alone, and therefore incomplete. A 

 helpmate is necessary if he would live up to the 

 traditions of the race and found a colony, so he 

 starts off from the pond which for two years has 

 been his home, his playground and the scene of his 

 labour. At first it is lonely work exploring new 

 country, following one stream after another. One 

 day he comes to a pond held captive by a large 

 dam and he enters it, and swims toward a lodge 

 which is on a small island. There is no one at 

 home, or sign of any of his kind about. In vain 

 he examines the shores for indications. The 



