98 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



sition. These hard trees demanded far greater 



effort, but the keen-edged teeth tore out the great 



chips, and each night saw the fall of at least one 



silvery birch or grey-coated maple, and the pile 



of winter wood grew larger and larger till it 



covered an area of full eighteen feet in diameter 



and five feet in depth. It was hard work, 



but it did not daunt the provident creatures, 



who knew well enough that on the fruits of their 



autumn labour must they depend for nearly half 



a year, so the harvest was gathered without 



murmur or complaint. Colder and still colder 



were the nights, and by the end of October ice 



formed around the margin of the pond and 



wherever the water was sheltered ; quite often 



after dragging the cut branches down over the 



carpet of crimson and gold leaves with which the 



ground was covered the beavers had to break a 



way through sharp-edged ice, and it warned them 



that it was time they should attend to the outside 



plastering of the house. This was a simple enough 



job, but still it must be properly done. Not too 



much mud should be put on at one time, but layer 



after layer, pressed in firmly among the woodwork. 



As each coating contracted under the influence of 



the frost another coat was applied, so that gradually 



the lodge assumed the appearance of a great mud 



heap, which, as it froze, became stronger on the 



outside and warmer in the cosy interior. At odd 



times during this season they collected bedding 



