e trees to guide one."

Noddy came out of the aspen grove after a time and then followed a
mountain-stream up-trail for half a mile or so, before turning to look
at her rider.

"Oh, you wise little Noddy. How did you know I wanted to stop here?"
laughed Polly, patting the burro affectionately.

Noddy flicked back her long ears in approval of such words and petting,
but Eleanor's cry made the burro listen intently.

"Polly! What a dreadful place to live in! Surely no one exists in this
lonesome wilderness, do they?"

"Mr. Beaver is clearing away the aspens just as fast as he can, but as
soon as they are all cut down, he will move the whole family to some
other dense grove, as they live on aspens, you know."

"What--what! I didn't understand you!" cried Eleanor.

Polly laughed as she pointed to a pond made by a dam crudely built
across the stream. It was rough and queer looking, but it answered its
purpose very well.

Eleanor saw half a dozen conical shaped huts built of mud in a row
across the dam, then she stared at both sides of the stream, up and
down, but no other habitation could she see. On the opposite bank
several large trees had been felled and a quantity of aspens had been
cut down and piled in confusion on the edge of the water.

"Do your ranchers live near here?" asked she.

"I didn't say they were ranchers, Nolla."

"Well, woodcutters, or what you call them!"

"Yes," laughed Polly, "they are woodcutters and live in those mud huts."

"What?" cried Eleanor again.

"S-sh! Not so loud or you will frighten them away!"

"Polly--impossible! What _do_ you mean anyway?"

"The beavers live there until the family grows too large, then they
either build another story to the house, or start a new colony where
aspens can be had in plenty. As there are so many young aspens here in
perfect security, for the beavers, Grandfather Beaver remains here."

"Oh, Polly! You mean they are _real beavers_!" gasped Eleanor.

"Yes, and I knew you would love to see them at work, but we have to keep
very quiet if we want them to come out."

"Tell me about them--quick--before we have to go away," begged Eleanor,
eagerly.

"We won't have to go, but we have to keep quiet. You see they must have
been cutting aspens over there, when they heard us coming and so they
made a dive for safety. They are now hiding in the huts."

"What can we do to coax them out again?"

"We'll lead the burros to the park to graze, and we'l