324 THE ERMINE WEASEL. 



ward to a rest from the tedium of their journey, or 

 rather to a change of their somewhat monotonous 

 routine. 



One evening, while seated by the camp fire, the 

 hunters observed a small animal stealing along by the 

 edge of some brushwood not far from the river bank. 

 At first, owing to the grass being somewhat high, they 

 were unable to recognize the creature ; but presently it 

 came directly into view, and they at once perceived it 

 to be an ermine weasel. 



It was evidently in pursuit of some small quadruped 

 or bird, as it ran the scent with eagerness, sometimes 

 stopping for a moment as if uncertain, and again 

 running forward with swift, stealthy steps. The trap- 

 pers had hardly made these observations when it 

 suddenly sprang forward, and at the same instant 

 several grouse rose with a whirring noise and disap- 

 peared behind the woods, leaving one of their number 

 struggling and fluttering in the clutches of the ermine. 

 The fierce little animal soon ended the contest by 

 crunching the bird's head between his sharp teeth ; and 

 he was just about to drag the body into the bushes, 

 when Jake ran up and secured the bird as a titbit for 

 his supper. The weasel looked as if half inclined to 

 fight ; but on second thoughts he took to his heels, and 

 vanished in some long grass. 



"I think," said Gaultier, "that those little fellows 

 change their coats in winter. What does your red 

 book say about them, Pierre ?" 



