24 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



quite heavy enough for the woodman's axe, 

 succeeded each other in bewildering confusion. 

 By and by, from a hemlock stump just ahead 

 but hidden by some bushes, came a crisp sound 

 of gnawing. Both lynxes crouched flat, their 

 absurd tails twitching. Then, separating so 

 that one should go to each side of the clump of 

 bushes, they crept upon the heedless gnawer. 

 As they came in sight of him, they stopped. 

 It was a big porcupine, fat, warmly clad, and 

 indifferent alike to foe and frost. 



Full well the lynxes knew that this was no 

 quarry for their hunting. But they could 

 not help dallying with the temptation. They 

 stole nearer, their mouths watering. The 

 porcupine went on gnawing the dry hemlock ; 

 but when the lynxes were come within a few 

 feet of him, he stopped, put his nose between 

 his forepaws, and erected his needle-pointed 

 quills, till there was nothing of him to be seen 

 but this threatening array. The lynxes 

 crouched flat and eyed him longingly. At 

 last the female, her hunger getting the better 

 of her discretion, stole closer and reached out 

 a prying nose, as if hoping to find some weak 

 point in the scornful rodent's defences. Grey 

 Lynx snarled a warning ; but in that same 

 instant the porcupine's tail a massive 

 member covered with tiniest needles jerked 



