UNDER THE APPLE-TREES 



treasures. Three, and often four, nuts at a time, 

 went into his pockets. If one of them was too large 

 to go in readily, he would take it between his teeth. 

 He would first bite off the sharp point from the nut 

 to keep it from pricking or irritating his pouches. 

 I do not think he feared a puncture. I renewed the 

 pile of nuts from time to time, and looked on with 

 interest. The day was cloudy and wet, but he ran 

 his express train all day. His feet soon became 

 muddy, and it was amusing to see him wash his 

 face with those soiled paws every time he emerged 

 from his hole. It was striking to see how much like 

 a machine he behaved, going through the same mo- 

 tions at the same points, as regularly as a clock. He 

 disappeared into his hole each time with a peculiarly 

 graceful movement which seemed to find expression 

 in the sweep of his tail. It was to the eye what 

 melodious sounds are to the ear, and contrasted 

 strangely with the sudden impulsive movements of 

 his usual behavior. When he emerged, the top of his 

 head and eyes first appeared, then a moment's 

 pause, then the head and neck arose, then the whole 

 body shot up in the erect posture with the paws 

 folded and hanging down on the white breast. The 

 face-washing was the next move, first the mouth, 

 then the nose and cheeks. Then, after a swift glance 

 around, off he goes, with tail well up in the air, for 

 another load. 



As the day declined, and the pile of nuts was ever 



21 



