home, and then swimming rapidly in circles 

 will close with them one by one and put 

 them out of the fight most effectively. His 

 method here seldom varies. He will whirl 

 in suddenly on the dog that he has singled 

 out, grip him about the neck with one arm, 

 saw away at his head with his powerful teeth, 

 at the same time slashing him across the 

 eyes with his free claws, and then pile his 

 weight on the dog's head to sink him under 

 and drown all the rest of the fight out of him. 

 That is generally enough for one dog; and 

 Mooweesuk, without a scratch and with his 

 temper cool as ice, will whirl like a flash upon 

 his next victim. 



Fortunately such troublous times are rare 

 in Mooweesuk's life, and the wilderness coon 

 knows little about them. His life from 

 beginning to end is generally a peaceable one, 

 full of good things to eat, and of sleep and 

 play and a growing knowledge of the woods. 

 He is born in the spring, a wee, blind, hair- 

 less little fellow, like a mole or a bear cub. 

 As he grows he climbs to the entrance to his 

 den, and will sit there as at a window for 



