74 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



within two paces of his hole, so that, as he 

 approached it, he evidently discovered us. He 

 paused, looked steadily at us, and then, without 

 any sign of fear, entered his den. The entrance 

 was not under the rocks as we had expected to 

 find it, but was in the bank a few feet beyond 

 them. We remained motionless for some time, 

 but he did not reappear. Our presence had made 

 him suspicious, and he was going to wait a while. 

 Then I removed some dry leaves and exposed his 

 doorway, a small, round hole, hardly as large as 

 the chipmunk makes, going straight down into 

 the ground. We had a lively curiosity to get a 

 peep into his larder. If he had been carrying in 

 mice at this rate very long, his cellars must be 

 packed with them. With a sharp stick I began 

 digging into the red clayey soil, but soon en- 

 countered so many roots from near trees that I 

 gave it up, deciding to return next day with a 

 mattock. So I repaired the damages I had done 

 as well as I could, replacing the leaves, and we 

 moved off. 



The next day, which was mild and still, I 

 came back prepared, as I thought, to unearth the 

 weasel and his treasures. I sat down where we 

 had sat the day before and awaited develop- 

 ments. I was curious to know if the weasel was 

 still carrying in his harvest. I had sat but a 



