length, and was puzzled to imagine how
the beavers imitated the effect of the axe in making the chips fly
off.

For a couple of hours the Boy busied himself joyously, observing the
work of these cunning woodsmen's teeth, noting the trails by which the
remoter cuttings had been dragged down to the water, and studying the
excavations on the canal. Then, fearing to make the little citizens of
the pond so nervous that they might not come out to business that
night, he withdrew over the slope and made his way back to camp. He
would sleep out the rest of the afternoon to be fresh and keen for the
night's watching.

At supper that evening, beside the camp-fire, when the woods looked
magical under the still, white moon, Jabe Smith gradually got fired
with the Boy's enthusiasm. The Boy's descriptions of the canal
digging, of the structure of the dam, and, above all, of the battle
between the otter and the beavers, filled him with a new eagerness to
observe these wonderful little engineers with other eyes than those of
the mere hunter and trapper. In the face of all the Boy's exact
details he grew almost deferential, quite laying aside his usual
backwoods pose of indifference and half derision. He made no move to
go to bed, but refilled his pipe and watched his young comrade's face
with shrewd, bright eyes grown suddenly boyish.

At last the Boy rose and picked up his rifle.

"I must hurry up and get myself hidden," said he, "or I'll see nothing
to-night. Good night, Jabe. I'll not be back, likely, till along
toward morning."

The backwoodsman's usual response was not forthcoming. For some
seconds he fingered his rugged chin in silence. Then, straightening
himself up, he spoke with an air of mingled embarrassment and
carelessness.

"Them beaver of yourn's certainly an interestin' kind of varmint.
D'ye know, blam'd if I ain't got a notion to go along with you
to-night, an' watch 'em myself!"

The Boy, though secretly delighted at this evidence of something like
conversion, eyed Jabe doubtfully. He was not sure of the latter's
capacity for the tireless patience and long self-effacement necessary
for such an adventure as this.

"Well, Jabe," he answered hesitatingly, "you know well how more than
glad I'd be of your company. It would just about double my fun, having
you along, if you were really interested, as I am, you know. And are
you sure you could keep still long enough to see anything?"

Jabe would have resented t