130 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
hills in his endeavour to discover the desired stream. 
At length his efforts were rewarded, a small 
stream was found running between some rough 
hills which many years ago had been swept by fire. 
All the large timber had been destroyed and only 
the gaunt grey stumps remained as the gravestones 
of the magnificent forest. Surrounding them was a 
thick second growth of aspens, birches, wild cherries 
and maples which sheltered the ground and gave 
the seedling conifers a chance to make their start 
in life. Throughout this burnt land wherever an 
opening occurred, the ground was blazing with the 
brilliant magenta fire-weed. The conditions were 
most favourable for a beaver colony, for though the 
stream was small, it was fed largely by springs 
issuing from the rugged hills, and the food supply 
was sufficient for quite a large community. Satis- 
fied with his investigations, the old beaver returned 
by a direct route to his home, guided by the sense 
which is possessed by;animals, but which we do not 
understand ; his arrival caused not the slightest 
surprise. 
What happened during the days following no 
man can tell, but presumably he in some way made 
known his ideas as to the advisability of a general 
exodus, and most of the beavers considered his 
arguments sound. At least so it appeared if we 
may judge from what took place. For the colony, 
with the exception of the pair and their young 
which lived in the smaller house, abandoned the 
