rd the work.

Henry's delight remained with him. The old king had been willing to put
the forest runner on an equality with himself by winking at him. They
two were superior to all the others and the king alone was aware of his
presence. Since the monarch had distinctly winked at him several times
it was likely that he would wink once or twice more, when enough was
done for dignity's sake. So he waited with great patience.

But for a little while the king seemed to have forgotten his existence
or to have repented of his condescension, as apparently he gave himself
up wholly to the tasks of kingship, telling how the work should be done,
and urging it on, as if apprehensive that another freeze might occur
before it could be finished. He was a fine old fellow, full of wisdom,
experience and decision, and Henry began to fear that he had been
forgotten in the crush of duties pertaining to the throne.

In about ten minutes, the gray king dived and came up a second time on
the near side of the pool. It was quite evident, too, that he was
winking once more, and Henry winked back with vigor. Then the beaver
began to swim slowly back and forth in a doubtful fashion, as if he had
something on his mind. The humorous look which Henry persuaded himself
he had seen in his eye faded. His glance expressed indecision,
apprehension even, and Henry, with the feeling of kinship strong upon
him, strove to divine what his cousin, the beaver, was thinking. That he
was not thinking now what he had been thinking ten minutes before was
quite evident, and the youth wondered what could be the cause of a
change so abrupt and radical.

He caught the beaver's eye and surely the old king was troubled. That
look said as plain as day to Henry that there was danger, and that he
must beware. Then the beaver suddenly raised up and struck the water
three powerful blows with his broad flat tail. The reports sounded like
rifle shots, and, before the echo of the last one died, the great and
wise king of his people sank like a stone beneath the water and did not
come into view again, disappearing into his royal palace, otherwise his
domed hut of stone-hard mud. All of his subjects shot from sight at the
same time and Henry saw only the domes of the beaver houses and the
silent pool.

He never doubted for an instant that the royal warning was intended for
him as well as the beaver people, and he instantly slid back deeper into
the thicket, just as a dozen Sh