later, the beaver had the satisfaction of seeing old Oo-koo-hoo walk
off with the wolverine's skin.

No . . . beavers do not believe in divorce . . . and on their wedding
day--usually in February--they promise to be true to each other for the
rest of their lives, and, moreover, unlike many human beings, they keep
their promise. About three months later the husband, seeing his wife
is getting ready to welcome new relations, leaves his comfortable home
just to be out of the way, and takes up new quarters in a hole in the
river bank. While he is there the children--any number from one to
six--arrive, and then can be heard much gentle whimpering, just as
though human babies were now living in the old homestead.

When the beaver children grow older they romp in the water much as
puppies do on land. If danger approaches, the first beaver to sense it
slaps the surface of the water with his broad, powerful tail, making a
noise that resounds through the forest as though a strong man had
struck the water a violent blow with the broad side of a paddle blade.
Instantly the first beaver's nearest companion signals the danger to
others by doing the same; then a second later they plunge out of sight
in the water and leave behind nothing but a great sound--as though an
elephant had fallen in.

When married and settled down, the beaver is very domestic--a great
stay-at-home--but when seeking a mate, he travels far and wide, and
leaves here and there along the shore scent signals, in the hope of
more easily attracting and winning a bride. Beavers are full grown at
three years of age, and by that time they have learned how to erect
houses, build dams, dig canals, chop down trees, cut up wood, float it
home and store it for the winter, and by that time too, they have, no