in bough and air; ravens fluffed themselves in the sun; and snowbirds
--little black-and-white beauties that were wont to whisk about like
so many flashing gems--changed their color from day to day until they
became new creatures in a new world.

The poplar buds swelled in their joy until they split like over fat
peas. The mother bears come out of their winter dens, accompanied by
little ones born weeks before, and taught them how to pull down the
slender saplings for these same buds. The moose returned from the
blizzardy tops of the great ridges, where for good reasons they had
passed the winter, followed by the wolves who fed upon their weak and
sick. Everywhere were the rushing torrents of melting snow, the
crackle of crumbling ice, the dying frost-cries of rock and earth and
tree; and each night the pale glow of the aurora borealis crept
farther and farther toward the pole in its fading glory.

The post fell back into its old ways. Now and then a visitor came in
from out of the forest, but he remained for only a day or two, taking
back into the solitude with him a few of the necessaries of life.
Williams was busy preparing his books for the coming of the company's
chief agent from London, and Cummins, who was helping the factor, had
a good deal of extra time on his hands.

Before the last of the snow was gone, he and Jan began dragging in
logs for an addition which they planned for the little cabin. Basking
out in the sun, with a huge bearskin for a floor, Melisse looked upon
the new home-building with wonderful demonstrations of interest.
Cummins' face glowed with pleasure as she kicked and scrambled on the
bearskin and gave shrill-voiced approval of their efforts.