The Builders. 99 



and here come the bushes floating down. Over at 

 the damaged house two beavers are up on the walls, 

 raising the rafters into place ; a third appears to be 

 laying on the outer covering and plastering it with 

 mud. Now and then one sits up straight like a 

 rabbit, listens, stretches his back to get the kinks 

 out, then drops to his work again. 



It is brighter now ; moon and stars are glimmering 

 in the pool. At the dam the sound of falling water 

 grows faint as the break is rapidly closed. The 

 houses loom larger. Over the dome of the one 

 broken, the dark outline of a beaver passes trium- 

 phantly. Quick work that. You grow more inter- 

 ested ; you stretch your neck to see — splash ! A 

 beaver gliding past has seen you. As he dives he 

 gives the water a sharp blow with his broad tail, the 

 dancjer signal of the beavers, and a startling one in 

 the dead stillness. There is a sound as of a stick 

 being plunged end first into the water; a few eddies 

 go running about the pool, breaking up the moon's 

 reflection ; then silence again, and the lap of ripples 

 on the shore. 



You can go home now; you will see nothing more 

 to-night. There 's a beaver over under the other 

 bank, in the shadow where you cannot see him, just 

 his eyes and ears above water, watching you. He will 

 not stir; nor will another beaver come out till you 



