WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



gave his captive a chance for a hero's victory or 

 death in honorable battle. % 



The little weasel, not one-twentieth the weight 

 of the big terrier, accepted the challenge without 

 a glance of appeal or hesitation. The instant 

 he was thrown down before the dog he faced his 

 foe, with fur on end and feet braced and jaws wide 

 open — never a thought of running away in his 

 plucky little head. 



The terrier rushed in, only to have the weasel 

 leap straight at his open mouth and fasten its 

 teeth in his nose. This was disconcerting, and 

 the dog squealed with surprise and pain ; he, also, 

 was courageous, and, shaking off his tormentor, 

 seized it again, only to have it wriggle a second 

 time out of his jaws and make a valiant effort to 

 escape. The dog darted after it and got a new 

 hold, but so did his undaunted and pertinacious 

 foe, and Nip had now to whirl the weasel round and 

 round his head before he could shake its grip loose 

 and seize its limber body in an effective grasp. 

 Even then, when, crushed at last, the weasel lay at 

 the point of death among the bruised and bloody 

 weeds, an indomitable spirit glared from the black 

 eyes, the sharp teeth were bared as defiantly as ever, 

 and he fell over on his side and died like a hero. 



24 



