40 



WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



iMl'i""'iii' 



snuff drowsily at the perfume. Now they all lay so warm 

 and cozey, rolled delicately snug in that furry ball — and when 

 daylight came and it went forth to play, they would keep the 

 bed warm for it through the glaring time of sunshine ! 



There's no use saying I could not, for I could see those 

 little fellows just as plain as the squirrel itself ; — and when 

 night came, I could see them, too, at their airy antics, plainly 

 against the moon as it rose up, and, at playing bo-peep, I 

 have caught them kissing the sleeping flowers, sure enough ! 



They used to fight with the old owls, too, and thrust sharp 

 spear grass in their moony eyes, that would stare murder at 

 gay, heedless chip munck, or pretty little panting wood-mouse 

 pattering on the withered leaves below ! Indeed, I saw them 

 often gathering from afar in arms — troop after troop, in snail- 

 shell helms, to drive such monsters bodily away when they 

 had ventured near that squirrel's house ; and then, the battle 



