198 A LIFE OF FEAR 



creature among our familiar wild animals. Who 

 ever saw a coon show the white feather? He 

 will face any odds with perfect composure. I 

 have seen a coon upon the ground, beset by 

 four men and two dogs, and never for a moment 

 lose his presence of mind, or show a sign of 

 fear. The raccoon is clear grit. 



The fox is a very wild and suspicious crea- 

 ture, but curiously enough, when you suddenly 

 come face to face with him, when he is held by 

 a trap, or driven by the hound, his expression 

 is not that of fear, but of shame and guilt. He 

 seems to diminish in size and to be over- 

 whelmed with humiliation. Does he know 

 himself to be an old thief, and is that the reason 

 of his embarrassment ? The fox has no enemies 

 but man, and when he is fairly outwitted, he 

 looks the shame he evidently feels. 



In the heart of the rabbit fear constantly 

 abides. How her eyes protrude ! She can see 

 back and front and on all sides as well as a 

 bird. The fox is after her, the owls are after 

 her, the gunners are after her, and she has no 

 defense but her speed. She always keeps well 

 to cover. The Northern hare keeps in the 

 thickest brush. If the hare or rabbit crosses 

 a broad open exposure it does so hurriedly, like 

 a mouse when it crosses the road. The mouse 

 is in danger of being pounced upon by a hawk, 

 and the hare or rabbit by the snowy owl, or 

 else the great horned owl. 



A friend of mine was following one morning 

 a fresh rabbit track through an open field. 



