THE LIFE OF A BEAVER COLONY 113 
ing, though there is no proof, and perhaps the 
extended wanderings were simply the result of 
restlessness after long months of inactivity. Within 
a distance of several hundred yards all around the 
pond his journeys took him and little escaped his 
keen eye. Among other things he noted to the 
eastward of where the short canal had been cut that 
there was a small knoll on which there was a dense 
growth of aspens whose silvery leaves trembled 
incessantly in the slightest breeze ; a very promising 
supply of food it was, but unfortunately it would 
mean a long, difficult portage of nearly two hundred 
yards, all over rough ground. He stored this 
information away in his brain, but did not avail 
himself of it for many weeks, during which time 
he made frequent trips, chiefly down the main 
stream, stopping here and there to place a small 
mud pie signal so that other strolling beaver would 
know he had been there. Sometimes he was 
accompanied by one or more of his year-old children, 
but Mrs. Beaver stayed at home to look after her 
young ones, who were thriving as all healthy wild 
creatures do. During the late afternoons she 
would lie on the surface of the water and watch 
the youngsters playing. It was scarcely safe to 
leave them entirely alone as they often became so 
engrossed in their games that they would have 
fallen easy victims to any enemy. One day she 
left them for a few minutes, going under water in 
search of some dainty morsel of food. As she rose 
R.B. I 
