their melting snows, had enlarged the hole. It 
was a menace now to any beavers living in 
the place, for their scent was wafted into the 
outside air. 
This meant, of course, that any wolf or 
coyote, who happened into the neighborhood, 
would be more than likely to pick up that 
tell-tale odor. In that event, there would fol¬ 
low a spell of rapid digging on the part of the 
enemy. If the beavers happened to be at home 
when this occurred, they would have ample 
time to escape through their tunnel. But, if 
they were away at that time, they would al¬ 
most certainly return, only to fall into the 
jaws of their waiting destroyer. 
There would be no hope of escape for a 
beaver thus taken by surprise. He cannot run, 
since on land he is exceedingly clumsy in his 
movements. He cannot fight, because he has 
neither fangs nor sharp claws. His only refuge 
is the water. Let him be cut off from that, 
and he is completely at the mercy of any beast 
fierce enough to attack him. It is plain, then, 
that there were plenty of reasons for building 
a new lodge. 
It is probable that the work of building 
would have been started in May, instead of 
July, had it not been for two circumstances. 
At the earlier date, Mother Beaver and two 
of her neighbors had been exceedingly busy 
61 
