118 WAITS FOR THE POLECAT. CHAP. vn. 



him and the sky. He also turned upon his side in 

 order to have more freedom to act. He had in one of 

 his breast pockets a water-hen which he had shot that 

 evening ; and he had no doubt that this was the bait 

 which attracted the polecat. He buttoned up his 

 coat to his chin, so as to prevent the bird from being 

 carried away by force. He was now ready for what- 

 ever might happen. Edward must tell the rest of 

 the story in his own words : 



"Well, just as I hoped and expected, in about 

 twenty minutes I observed the fellow entering the 

 vault, looking straight in my direction. He was very 

 cautious at first. He halted, and looked behind him. 

 He turned a little, and looked out. I could easily 

 have shot him now, but that would have spoilt the 

 sport ; besides, I never wasted my powder and shot 

 upon anything that I could take with my hands. 

 Having stood for a few seconds, he slowly advanced, 

 keeping his nose on the ground. On he came. He 

 put his fore-feet on my legs, and stared me full in 

 the face for about a minute. I wondered what he 

 would do next, whether he would come nearer or go 

 away. When satisfied with his look at my face, he 

 dropped his feet and ran out of the vault. I was a 

 good deal disappointed ; and I feared that my look 

 had frightened him. By no means. I was soon 

 reassured by hearing the well-known and ominous 

 squeak-squeak of the tribe. It occurred to me that I 

 was about to be assaulted by a legion of polecats, and 

 that it might be best to beat a retreat. 





