five miles. If he had come over the 

 mountain and several foothills in a 

 straight line, which seemed unlikely, he 

 might have shortened his trip to about 

 twenty miles. 



We saw the white headed beaver many 

 times during our visits to the pond that 

 summer, sometimes on shore, or sitting 

 on the trunk of a poplar or birch tree 

 which he had felled near the water. His 

 body was about thirty inches long, tail 

 ten inches long and six inches wide, 

 hind feet webbed, like those of a goose, 

 fore feet resembled the hands of a child 

 but with long, sharp toe nails. He might 

 have weighed forty or fifty pounds. He 

 was a slow and clumsy traveler on land 

 but a very efficient citizen in the water. 

 He could dive and remain under water 

 from eight to ten minutes without ap- 

 parent inconvenience. Swimming, he 

 could tow a log twice his own weight and 

 against the current when necessary. 



Early in September, his wife arrived. 

 Whether the "old man" went after her, 



16 



