99 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
the pond increased correspondingly. With the 
deepening of the water, the beaver found their 
burrows were no longer dry, so they decided that 
it was time to commence building a lodge. 
Summer was now at its height, and autumn would 
be upon them soon after the next moon. So even 
though it was full early, they chose the site for the 
new house. The place decided on was a small 
alder-covered knoll which the rising water had 
surrounded and made into an island. It was close 
to a spring, which was of great advantage. The 
earth being fairly soft a burrow was easily made. 
It started under water and ended in the centre of 
the islet. All roots were cut off and the tunnel 
made quite smooth, with a diameter of about 
thirteen inches. Very few of the growing alders 
were cut, as for the present they would be of service 
in supporting the building. Later they could be 
cut if necessary. 
These were busy nights for the little builders. 
Sticks of various sizes had to be cut and hauled up 
on the knoll ; some of the wood they collected from 
among the dead branches which had been floated 
by the rising water, others they cut and from these 
they often eat the bark. This reduced the amount 
of work necessary, as the cuttings thus served two 
purposes. No big trees were cut at this time, that 
would come later. Among the network of sticks 
they placed great quantities of fibrous mud and sod, 
which was torn from the bottom of the stream close 
