OUTDOORS 



doesn't see a cluster of squirrels on every 

 other branch. He is very likely to be a reck- 

 less fellow with a gun and the song-birds are 

 apt to suffer as he goes along. 



Sometimes, however, the sound of foot- 

 steps dies away and the sharp-eyed fox-squir- 

 rel holds to the bark and listens, and all is 

 apparently safe again. A crow flying over 

 sends out his challenge of " caw, caw," in an 

 impudently assertive manner, and the downy 

 woodpecker busies himself on the very tree 

 on which the squirrel is fastened. There is 

 a faint breeze stirring, and the broad green 

 leaves of oaks move softly and waver be- 

 tween shade and shine. The peril seems 

 over. Now, the squirrel, at the first echo of 

 approaching steps, runs around to the oppo- 

 site side of the tree and clings there. Conse- 

 quently his line of vision is limited. If he 

 could look around the tree or through it he 

 would see a wily man, an experienced hunter, 

 watching for squirrels. This man has come 

 up the slope and has noticed a number of 

 fine oaks scattered about here and there, with 

 occasional logs and stumps in different places 

 on the hill. A quarter of a mile away is the 

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