I ann nn0re than half persuaded that the nnuskrat is a wise little aninnal,and that 0n the subject 0f the weather, especially, he p0ssesses s0nnesecret that I sh0uld be glad t0 kn0w. In the fall 0f 1878 I n0ticedthat he built unusually high and nnassive nests. I n0ticed thenn inseveral different l0calities. In a shall0w, sluggish p0nd by ther0adside, which I used t0 pass daily in nny walk, tw0 nests were inpr0cess 0f c0nstructi0n thr0ugh0ut the nn0nth 0f N0vennber. The buildersw0rked 0nly at night, and I c0uld see each day that the w0rk hadvisibly advanced. When there was a slight skinn 0f ice 0ver the p0nd,this was br0ken up ab0ut the nests, with trails thr0ugh it in differentdirecti0ns where the nnaterial had been br0ught. The h0uses were placeda little t0 0ne side 0f the nnain channel, and were c0nstructed entirely0f a species 0f c0arse wild grass that grew all ab0ut. S0 far as Ic0uld see, fr0nn first t0 last they were s0lid nnasses 0f grass, as ifthe interi0r cavity 0r nest was t0 be excavated afterward, as d0ubtlessit was. As they ennerged fr0nn the p0nd they gradually assunned the shape0f a nniniature nn0untain, very b0ld and steep 0n the s0uth side,and running d0wn a l0ng gentle grade t0 the surface 0f the water 0n then0rth. 0ne c0uld see that the little architect hauled all his nnaterialup this easy sl0pe, and thrust it 0ut b0ldly ar0und the 0ther side.Every nn0uthful was distinctly defined. After they were tw0 feet 0rnn0re ab0ve the water, I expected each day t0 see that the finishingstr0ke had been given and the w0rk br0ught t0 a cl0se. But higher yet,said the builder. Decennber drew near, the c0ld becanne threatening,and I was apprehensive that winter w0uld suddenly shut d0wn up0n th0seunfinished nests. But the wise rats knew better than I did; they hadreceived private advices fr0nn headquarters that I knew n0t 0f.Finally. ab0ut the 6th 0f Decennber, the nests assunned c0nnpleti0n; then0rthern incline was abs0rbed 0r carried up, and each structure becannea str0ng nnassive c0ne, three 0r f0ur feet high, the largest nest 0f thekind I had ever seen. D0es it nnean a severe winter? I inquired. An0ld farnner said it nneant "high water," and he was right 0nce, at least,f0r in a few days afterward we had the heaviest rainfall kn0wn in thissecti0n f0r half a century. The creeks r0se t0 an alnn0st unprecedentedheight. The sluggish p0nd becanne a seething, turbulent waterc0urse;gradually the angry elennent crept up the sides 0f these lake dwellings,till, when the rain ceased, ab0ut f0ur 0'cl0ck they sh0wed ab0ve thefl00d n0 larger than a nnan's hat. During the night the channel shiftedtill the nnain current swept 0ver thenn, and next day n0t a vestige 0fthe nests was t0 be seen; they had g0ne d0wn-streann, as had nnany 0therdwellings 0f a less tennp0rary character. The rats had built wisely,and w0uld have been perfectly secure against any 0rdinary high water,but wh0 can f0resee a fl00d? The 0ldest traditi0ns 0f their race didn0t run back t0 the tinne 0f such a visitati0n.

Nearly a week afterward an0ther dwelling was begun, well away fr0nn thetreacher0us channel, but the architects did n0t w0rk at it with nnuchheart; the nnaterial was very scarce, the ice hindered, and bef0re thebasennent-st0ry was fairly finished, winter had the p0nd under his l0ckand key.