THE LIFE OF A BEAVER COLONY 93 
feet at the highest point. This necessitated a still 
further increase in length, with corresponding 
increase in the size and depth of the pond. For- 
tunately their lodge had not been seriously injured 
by the unexpected rise of water. The floor, it is 
true, had been submerged, which was quite natural, 
as it had been only four inches above the normal 
water level. One thing leads to another, and the 
additional work on the dam meant that the floor of 
the lodge must also be raised, so they cut away part 
of the ceiling and used the material thus obtained 
for the flooring. This in turn meant putting still 
more material on the outside of the house, as the 
thickness of the walls needed to be not less than 
three feet and the roofing a foot and a half, without 
the final coating of mud. ‘ 
September with its cool clear days was in its last 
quarter by the time the young couple had every- 
thing in order. The white frosts at night warned 
them of the approaching cold season for which full 
preparation must be made if they expected to live 
in comfort. Most important of all the tasks was 
the food supply. So they made a tour of investiga- 
tion among the trees to see that they were in proper 
condition for being stored. Several small birches 
were examined and partly cut in order that they 
should dry thoroughly before being felled. They 
dry better and more rapidly while standing, so 
after the beaver had girdled them they went off 
to a small aspen grove and commenced serious 
