entrances
to them could not be frozen up; and we found that whenever the beavers
were disturbed or frightened from their houses, they invariably betook
themselves to these washes, where they could crawl quietly up above the
surface of the water, and breathe in safety!

"This was the proper season to trap the beaver, as their fur is more
valuable in winter than at any other time; but, as I have already said,
it was not our intention to disturb them, until they should become very
numerous.

"The ice upon the dam was exceedingly smooth, and of course suggested
the idea of skates. Both Frank and Harry were very fond of this
amusement, and, indeed, I was rather partial to it myself.

"Skates then must be had, at all cost, and again we had recourse to the
_bois d'arc_, the wood of which was sufficiently light and compact for
our purpose Cudjo, with his hammer and a good hickory-fire, soon drew
out the shoeing for them, making it very thin--as our stock of iron
consisted in what we had taken from the body of the wagon, and was of
course very precious, and not to be wasted upon articles designed merely
for amusement. However, we knew it would not be lost upon the skates;
as we could take it from them, whenever we should want to apply it to a
more useful purpose. In a short time, we had three pairs; and,
strapping them firmly to our feet with strips of deerskin, were soon
gliding over the dam, and spinning around the beaver-houses--no doubt to
the great wonderment of such of the animals as came out under the ice to
look at us. Mary, with Cudjo and the children, stood watching us from
the shore, and clapping their hands with delight.

"With these and such-like innocent recreations, we passed the winter
very agreeably. It was but a very short winter; and as soon as the
spring returned, Cudjo, with his wooden plough, turned up our little
field, and we planted our corn. It occupied nearly an acre of ground;
and we had now the pleasant prospect that, in six weeks' time, we should
gather about fifty bushels. We did not neglect our hundred grains of
wheat, but sowed that carefully in a corner by itself. You may fancy
that it did not take up much ground. Mary had also her garden, with
beds of wild potatoes, and other roots, which she had discovered in the
valley. One of these was the species of turnip already mentioned as the
_pomme-blanche_, or Indian turnip. She had found wild onions too, which
proved of great service