WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



but the soil was so loose that it fell in as 

 she worked, so that she was soon quite buried, 

 though all the time flinging out a little shower 

 of sand with her rapidly moving hind feet. 

 The nut fell in with tumbling soil, and was 

 covered by it. A minute later the vole backed 

 out, covered with dust and earth, but a good 

 shake threw off the bits, leaving her as smart 

 as ever. She looked round for her treasure, 

 which had gone, but she seemed to understand 

 what had become of it, probably smelling where 

 it was buried, for after sniffing at the spot she 

 ran away, caught hold with her teeth of a 

 lettuce leaf, and pulled it to the place where the 

 nut was hidden. Then she dragged another 

 up, also to cover the spot, then another, and 

 yet another, until five leaves were piled one 

 above the other. Even then she was not 

 satisfied. She stood and looked at her work 

 for a second, then turned her back on it and 

 began to scratch up the sandy soil and throw 

 it over the heap. Her fore legs went up and 

 down, and the earth flew out between her hind 

 ones in a pattering stream, then as suddenly as 

 she had begun she stopped, turned round, 

 and looked at her work. No, the result was 

 not perfect yet ! She went close to the pile and 

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