A Day With the Squirrels. 



ley to the hills on the other side, and enjoy all the beauties 

 of the autumn foliage, as it shaded up from the bank of the 

 creek to the top of the hill, the flaming colors of the maples, 

 thrown into relief by the green surrounding them and shaded 

 off into restful effects by the orange yellow of the hickories 

 higher up, and winding diagonally to the top of the hill, was 

 an old worm-fence, bordered on either side by a fringe of 

 deep red sumach, beautifully setting off this lovely autumn 

 picture. But a rustle in the leaves aroused me from contem- 

 plation, and, turning my head, I caught a glimpse of a sly 

 old gray as he darted around to the opposite side of a burr 

 oak, on his way to the top. Nor did he stop until the topmost 

 branch was reached. There he balanced himself on a spring- 

 ing limb, like an acrobat, hesitated a second, and leaped to a big 

 walnut. The branch swayed under his weight as he struck it, 

 and before he could recover to run, I got a snap shot at him. 

 Stowing him away with his mates, I went back to my seat, 

 cocked the gun and was ready for the next one. I hadn't been 

 quiet more than ten minutes before a walnut dropped through 

 the branches from over my head, and, casting my eyes upward, 

 I saw a gray tail hanging down over a large limb. I knew 

 the owner must be close by, and, getting my gun in position, 

 I kept a close watch on the spot. In a short time a little nose 

 came cautiously out from behind the limb. I covered it, and 

 as the top of the head appeared I pulled the trigger, and my 

 fourth squirrel came tumbling down through the limbs, almost 

 striking me on the head. The sun had climbed to- that position 

 in the heavens that marks the dinner hour, and the inner 

 man was demanding attention, so I lay my course for the 

 boat to meet George. 



I found him sitting on an old log waiting for me, and 

 when I came up, I inquired what luck. 



"I got three, but I got all I saw." 



"I can beat you one, George. Just take a look at these 

 four beauties." 



[53] 



