WILDWOOD WAYS 



limit every time he does it. So quickly 

 does he go that you cannot be sure what 

 has happened; there was the stirring of a 

 leaf on one side and a grass stem on the 

 other and a sudden vanishing touch of 

 brown between the two, but which way 

 it went or whether it went at all is doubt- 

 ful. So, too, his tunnels come down and 

 open at the water's edge by the meadow 

 brook and if you are patient and have 

 rare luck you may see him swim across. 

 Here trout and mink are on the watch 

 for him. His numbers need to be great 

 if, with all his caution and agility, he is 

 going to survive all these huntsmen, and 

 they are great. He may breed at two 

 months of age and have many litters a 

 season and his progeny, if unchecked, 

 soon swarm. All the meadows are full 

 of them this year, but it is only when 

 such a snow as we now have comes that 

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