THE LIFE OF A BEAVER COLONY 113 



ing, though there is no proof, and perhaps the 

 extended wanderings were simply the result of 

 restlessness after long months of inactivity. Within 

 a distance of several hundred yards all around the 

 pond his journeys took him and little escaped his 

 keen eye. Among other things he noted to the 

 eastward of where the short canal had been cut that 

 there was a small knoll on which there was a dense 

 growth of aspens whose silvery leaves trembled 

 incessantly in the slightest breeze ; a very promising 

 supply of food it was, but unfortunately it would 

 mean a long, difficult portage of nearly two hundred 

 yards, all over rough ground. He stored this 

 information away in his brain, but did not avail 

 himself of it for many weeks, during which time 

 he made frequent trips, chiefly down the main 

 stream, stopping here and there to place a small 

 mud pie signal so that other strolling beaver would 

 know he had been there. Sometimes he was 

 accompanied by one or more of his year-old children, 

 but Mrs. Beaver stayed at home to look after her 

 young ones, who were thriving as all healthy wild 

 creatures do. During the late afternoons she 

 would lie on the surface of the water and watch 

 the youngsters playing. It was scarcely safe to 

 leave them entirely alone as they often became so 

 engrossed in their games that they would have 

 fallen easy victims to any enemy. One day she 

 left them for a few minutes, going under water in 

 search of some dainty morsel of food. As she rose 



R.B. I 



