40 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



place a cup full of nails. The proprietor of the 

 nail keg by diligent work got back about half his 

 original supply of nails. 



This all sounds very funny and humorous, but 

 in the early days when men were quick with 

 their guns, a thief's life was often a short 

 one, but not always merry. The hills were full 

 of men who came there to search for gold 

 and who had never heard of or seen a pack 

 rat. It is said that many a bloody tragedy 

 was probably caused by the pack rats taking things 

 of value from one cabin and depositing them in 

 another, and the poor victim with the stolen goods 

 in his shack was given no time for explanation. 



Superstitious people have been so 



FRIGHTENED BY FOUR-FOOTED MIDNIGHT 

 MARAUDERS 



that they have been known to sell valuable claims 

 for trifling amounts in order that they might make 

 their escape from the uncanny -neighborhood. It 

 would be interesting to know how much of our old 

 superstitions and beliefs in ghosts, witches, gnomes, 

 and fairies could be traced to the pranks of small 

 animals. But the prettiest legend that I ran across 

 in the West is the one that I heard told as we sat 

 around a camp fire on the shores of the Arrow 

 lakes. I had heard references to it in many parts 

 of the West, so I am led to believe that there is 

 probably a foundation of truth in it. I will tell 

 it to you as I remember it. 



