and I saw a whole council of them meet together,
and they talked after their own fashion so earnestly, that I really
think they have a language as good as our own. It's always the old ones
who talk, and the young ones who listen."

"That's true," replied Malachi. "I once myself saw them hold a council,
and then they all separated to go to work, for they were about to dam up
a stream and build their lodges."

"And what did they do, Malachi?" said Mrs Campbell.

"Why, ma'am, they did all the same as Christians would have done. The
Injuns say that beavers have souls as well as themselves, and certainly,
if sense gave souls, the Injuns would be in the right. The first thing
that they did was to appoint their sentinels to give notice of danger;
for the moment anyone comes near them, these sentinels give the signal
and away they all dive, and disappear till the danger is over."

"There are many beasts as well as birds that do the same," observed Mr
Campbell; "indeed, most of those which are gregarious and live in
flocks."

"That's true, sir," replied Martin.

"Well, ma'am, the beavers choose a place fit for their work. What they
require is a stream running through a flat or bottom, which stream of
water they may dam up so as to form a large pond of a sufficient depth
by the water flowing over and covering the flat or bottom several feet;
and when they have found the spot they require, they begin their work."

"Perhaps," observed Mr Campbell, "this choice requires more sagacity
than the rest of their labour, for the beavers must have some
engineering talent to make the selection; they must be able to calculate
as exactly as if they took their levels, to secure the size and depth of
water in the pond which is necessary. It is the most wonderful,
perhaps, of all the instincts, or reasoning powers rather, allotted to
them."

"It is, sir; and I've often thought so," replied Malachi; "and then to
see how they carry all their tools about them; a carpenter's basket
could not be better provided. Their strong teeth serve as axes to cut
down the trees; then their tails serve as trowels for their mason's
work; their fore-feet they use just as we do our hands, and their tails
are also employed as little carts or wheelbarrows."

"Pray go on, Malachi," said Mary; "I am quite interested already."

"Well, miss, I have known these little creatures as they are, raise
banks four or five hundred paces in length, and a matter of