It was a pretty sight and a pretty shot ; but 

 I would not have had the stillness and the 

 moonlit picture spoiled by the blare of that 

 murderous musket for the pelts of fifty musk- 

 rats, and as the gun was coming to Uncle 

 Jethro's shoulder, I slipped my hand under the 

 lifted hammer. 



With just an audible grunt of impatience the 

 old negro understood, it was not the first good 

 shot that my love of wild things had spoiled for 

 him, and the unsuspecting muskrat swam on to 

 the dam. 



A plank had drifted against the bank, and 

 upon this the little creature scrambled out, as 

 dry as the cat at home under the roaring 

 kitchen stove. Down another 

 road came a second muskrat, 

 and, swimming across the 

 open water at the dam, 

 joined the first-comer 

 on the plank. They 

 rubbed noses softly the 



c, ,, ., -, "They rubbed 



sweetest of all wild-animal greetings and a noses." 

 moment afterward began to play together. 

 They were out for a frolic, and the night was 

 [179] 



