O-Go changed his mind about that, how¬ 
ever, when right beside him, he discovered a 
strange beaver, who was even larger than his 
mother. O-Go didn’t wait for any signal. He 
gave one himself, and immediately dived into 
the pond, with Ilg and Ela close after him. 
Mother Beaver also dived in order to impress 
upon her young ones the importance of obey¬ 
ing the danger signal. To Mother Beaver, 
though, the newcomer was no stranger, but 
her mate. Father Beaver had returned to his 
family. 
For a time, the three young beavers remained 
in the water, watching their parents from a safe 
distance. Then, slowly and cautiously, they 
swam back to the dam, and returned to their 
interrupted meal. 
Gradually, they became accustomed to the 
presence of their father, and even began to feel 
that they knew him. Finally, swimming in 
single file with Father Beaver in the lead, and 
Mother Beaver bringing up the rear, all five 
returned to the lodge that nestled among the 
willows. 
31 
