100 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



to check my progress down stream. Had I seen the an- 

 imal take something over the creek or bring something 

 back, all would have been plain enough, but this was not 

 the case. That swim of fifty yards each way was ap- 

 parently without an object, and so was a proper subject 

 for a naturalist's consideration. I felt convinced that 

 there was something behind the scenes. Why should 

 not the musk-rat's brain be as active as its body ? The 

 creature doubtless had plans and purposes of its own ; 

 and it was my desire, if not my business, to determine 

 what they were. 



When the musk -rat returned to the north shore it 

 looked after me, as I very slowly withdrew, and when 

 the distance between us was doubled, rose upon its hind- 

 legs and uttered a shrill squeak; then it plunged into 

 the water. I saw that it was again crossing the creek, 

 and quickly urged my boat forward. Instantly the 

 musk-rat dived, and I saw nothing more of it, until de- 

 tected in creeping very slowly from the creek and then 

 skulking behind the clustered stems of crowded ^N~uphar. 

 I held my boat back and waited. The musk-rat sat 

 watching me. Tired at last I slowly withdrew, and 

 when I could no longer see the cunning creature, it evi- 

 dently became satisfied that all danger was past, and 

 again commenced swimming to the opposite shore, and 

 this time not alone. A series of wakes told the story, 

 the brood of the cunning musk-rat followed their par- 

 ent. 



It must not be supposed that this mammal is every- 

 where abundant. It has always been subject to constant 

 persecution ; and considering the numbers trapped dur- 



