WOODLAND PATHS 



come nearer. Then after a little I heard 

 splashing, and out into a clear space of 

 grassy shallows came a splendid great 

 muskrat followed by another just as large. 

 In the middle of this tourney ground the 

 two faced each other, and after a second 

 of sparring closed. 



It was hardly a scientific fight. They 

 batted and clawed, butted and scratched 

 and bit, whining like eager dogs, and now 

 and then yelping with pain. But it was 

 effective; in a very few minutes one had 

 enough and turned and fled, ploughing a 

 straight furrow through the shallows, to 

 a plunge in a deep hole. The victor fol- 

 lowed a few yards, then as if convinced 

 that the retreat was a real one, turned and 

 went proudly back, probably to the lady 

 who was the cause of all this trouble. 

 Muskrats are such gentle creatures that 



I was amazed to see this happen, but af- 

 212 



