118 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



the lodge to find their canal useless. Over half 

 an inch of clear, " black " ice had formed over its 

 entire length and they could not break it. So the 

 aspen grove, or what was left of it, was abandoned, 

 the smooth, gleaming white stumps bearing silent 

 testimony to the remarkable activity of the beaver. 

 The season of work was practically at an end. 

 Here and there they managed to find a tree within 

 their reach, but only where the streams ran into 

 the pond and so kept the ice from forming could 

 they bring any supplies. Around the lodge and 

 wood -pile the ice was solid, except the region of 

 the spring where but little formed, so that what- 

 ever branches were brought had to be transported 

 for a considerable distance under water. When 

 they finally rested from their labours the store was 

 ample for their needs, even though winter should 

 last beyond its usual time. 



The months that followed were in no way 

 different from those of the previous winter. But 

 when spring came, instead of the father beaver 

 leaving the lodge alone, he took with him his three 

 older children, and lived with them in the summer 

 burrow. The mother, who later gave birth to 

 four kittens, lived in the lodge with the three 

 survivors of the previous year. This season a 

 change was decided upon. The family, now 

 numbering twelve, would crowd the lodge beyond 

 its capacity, so the three older ones were given to 

 understand by their parents that they must seek 



