"You shall do no such thing," said Binney's friend. "We were all town-beavers once, and he is as good as the rest. Never mind, Binney, he shall not hurt you; you shall live with us, and learn to be free and bold as we are."
Binney did not like the prospects of living with the wood-beavers; but he thought they would be going home presently, and then he could slip away and run home to the village. I am sorry to say he began to think what sort of a story he should tell to excuse himself to his father, for like most idlers, he had already learned to make false excuses. But he made a sad mistake, as you will see by and by.
[CHAPTER IV.]
DISOBEDIENCE PUNISHED.
THE beavers played all day long about the pond, and in the meadow. Binney knew very well how to dive for the lily roots, and when his companions found this out they kept him busy enough. It was, "Binney, just get me a piece, there is a good fellow;" and "Binney, just take one more dive for me, and I will do as much for you some day," till Binney was almost tired out, and began to think he might a good deal better have got his twigs and gone home.
As the sun began to sink low in the sky he grew uneasy, and hinted to his new friend that they might as well be turning homeward.
"We are going to stay here to-night," said the wood-beaver, stretching himself and yawning. "One place is as much home as another to us. I say, Binney, just pull that burr out of my ear, will you?"
Binney pulled out the burr, and then said, trying very hard to speak bravely, "Well, I must go home at any rate, so good night, and thank you."
"Heyday!" cried the largest of the wood-beavers. "Not quite so fast, my young friend. You are not going back to the town to tell tales, and bring all your friends to our feeding ground. Not if I know it."
"No, indeed!" cried all the wood-beavers. "You came of your own free will, and now you must stay. There is no such thing as going back."