266 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 



grass in half an hour, and sleep there just as 

 happily as if it had cost a fortnight's digging." 



It is too bad that such calm philosophers as this 

 should be annoyed by dogs and hunters. Even 

 Thoreau, finding a respectable woodchuck engaged 

 in its doorway in conversation with some one in- 

 side, reached in, seized it by the tail, dragged 

 it out, and flung it far down hill. Could any indig- 

 nity be greater, or, from that source, more unex- 

 pected ? Worse than this, some folks, having 

 learned it from the aborigines, desire marmot 

 skins for mittens, wallets, and the like ; and even 

 try to catch the poor things in order to eat their 

 flesh. 



That the animal is not really spiritless and lazy, 

 but deliberately reposeful, is shown by the way that, 

 when pursued, he can exert reserve energy to good 

 purpose in getting into a place of safety ; and hav- 

 ing his means of retreat strategically secure, is 

 willing and able to give valiant battle. Then the 

 chattering and growling of his voice, and the clat- 

 tering and gritting of his teeth, make any enemy 

 think twice before proceeding to close quarters. 

 This gives him time to rush to his castle, into 

 which he plunges, flinging scorn and defiance at 

 his impotent foes. If a ferret penetrates his de- 

 fences, or a man digs them up, he steals from his 

 postern gate and hurries to new intrenchments. 

 Hence in the South, when a person is seen work- 

 ing with feverish energy at a hopeless task, men 



