As many more waddled out among the alders and willows.

Eagerly Baree watched for Umisk and his chums.

At last he saw them, swimming forth from one of the smaller houses.

They climbed out on their playground--the smooth bar above the shore of mud.
Baree wagged his tail so hard that his whole body shook, and hurried along the dam.
When he came out on the level strip of shore, Umisk was there alone, nibbling his supper from a long, freshly cut willow.

The other little beavers had gone into a thick clump of young alders.
This time Umisk did not run.