82 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
Let us choose an imaginary beaver, a young 
male, and follow him on what presumably would 
be his life. He is two years old and he has his 
way to make in the beaver world. No longer may 
he remain beneath the parental roof, for that is 
taxed to the limit of its capacity, and as his 
brothers and sisters have had to go off into the 
wilds to shift for themselves, so also must he. 
Two summers ago he was a mere kitten, dependent 
on his parents, too small to work, and without 
much knowledge. But the time has not been 
wasted. He has seen what work is required by 
those who would thrive, and he has helped in all 
the various labours. He has seen how dams should 
be built, trees felled, lodges made and repaired. 
He has, in fact, served his apprenticeship, and is 
now but little below full size, while his strength is 
equal to any demands that may be made upon it. 
But he is alone, and therefore incomplete. A 
helpmate is necessary if he would live up to the 
traditions of the race and found a colony, so he 
starts off from the pond which for two years has. 
been his home, his playground and the scene of his 
labour. At first it is lonely work exploring new 
country, following one stream after another. One 
day he comes to a pond held captive by a large 
dam and he enters it, and swims toward a lodge 
which is on a small island. There is no one at 
home, or sign of any of his kind about. In vain 
he examines the shores for indications. The 
