their pond, and the snow pile foot after foot 
upon it! Their stores were in deep water, well 
below frost level; and so, too, were the entrances 
to their lodges. Let the cold go to twenty, 
thirty, or even forty degrees below zero! Their 
fur was soft and warm; their thick-walled 
lodges were sufficiently heated by the warmth 
of the occupants’ bodies. 
Therefore, through gray days and sunshine, 
through clear nights and black, O-Go, Ilg, and 
Ela dwelt in the lodge of their parents, eating, 
sleeping and growing. There were no berries or 
pond lily roots for them now; but the bark 
of the poplar sticks was savory, and if their 
diet was monotonous, they probably did not 
realize it. Because there was so little room for 
play, they slept more than they had during 
the summer. Because they slept so much, they 
had less need of food. 
Thus, they spent their hours, and were 
happy, until spring once more found its way 
into the Northland. 
127 
