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 



