A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



his nest-box. That night something touched 

 me on the face and awoke me. I remained 

 quiet, and soon I felt a cold, soft touch on 

 my cheek. A swift clutch and I had Satan 

 by one paw. I held him until I had lighted 

 the lamp. He looked innocent and grieved, 

 and tried to show me that he did not mean 

 any wrong. He wanted to know if I were 

 asleep or dead. When I released him he 

 went to his box and raised the cover so quickly 

 and neatly that it seemed a slight-of-hand 

 performance. 



One morning I neglected to secure the door 

 to Satan's cage. When I returned that night 

 the door was open and the coon was missing. 

 The next day I took some food to the den 

 under the boulder, but Satan did not care 

 for food. He was fat enough to go into 

 hibernation, and had probably entered upon 

 the sleep that would last till spring. The 

 next spring Satan would come to the mouth 

 of the den and take food from my hand, but 

 he was so crafty that I could not get hold 

 of his neck. I thought to arrange a box- 

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