Noddy flicked back her long ears in approval of such words and petting, but Eleanor's cry made the burro listen intently.
"Polly! What a dreadful place to live in! Surely no one exists in this lonesome wilderness, do they?"
"Mr. Beaver is clearing away the aspens just as fast as he can, but as soon as they are all cut down, he will move the whole family to some other dense grove, as they live on aspens, you know."
"What—what! I didn't understand you!" cried Eleanor.
Polly laughed as she pointed to a pond made by a dam crudely built across the stream. It was rough and queer looking, but it answered its purpose very well.
Eleanor saw half a dozen conical shaped huts built of mud in a row across the dam, then she stared at both sides of the stream, up and down, but no other habitation could she see. On the opposite bank several large trees had been felled and a quantity of aspens had been cut down and piled in confusion on the edge of the water.
"Do your ranchers live near here?" asked she.
"I didn't say they were ranchers, Nolla."
"Well, woodcutters, or what you call them!"
"Yes," laughed Polly, "they are woodcutters and live in those mud huts."