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 
