THE BOY-IIUNTER. 



43 





his long black whiskers tremble as he pricks his short ears to 

 listen ! Then, quick as lightning, he mounts the stump, 

 frisking his pert tail at a great rate ; you can see his little 

 white bosom beating fast, like a toy watch in a flurry, as he 

 glances sharply round ; then away he darts, pit-a-pat ! leap- 

 ing on another stump to look again ; now he is satisfied the 

 coast is clear, and with a soft" chirping squeak dives down 

 into the leaves, scratching them aside and pushing under 

 them his inquisitive nose. Ha ! another soft chirp, and he 

 darts back upon the stump again, and you can see his small 

 cheeks are all puffed out. In a moment one of the acorns he 

 has found is in his paws, and sitting up straight as a little 

 goblin man, you can soon hear his sharp teeth creak ! creak ! 

 against the hull. 



He, too, has friends that live with him ; that are kin to 



