HAIRY-TAILED PACK RATS 45 



QUAINT ECCENTRICITIES OF CHARACTER 



overshadow the peculiarity of its appearance. No 

 sooner does a camper, prospector or trapper erect 

 his tent, shack or cabin in the rat country than the 

 pack rats are on hand eager for a chance to trade, 

 as I have already said; not only do they exchange 

 their bric-a-brac for food, but any portable object 

 has a value to them, finger rings, pocket knives, 

 buttons, revolvers, iron bolts, pocket compasses, 

 cartridges, watches and keys are irresistibly tempt- 

 ing to pack rats. 



As the summer advanced Paddy moved further 

 up the mountain side, where he began a famous 

 collection of curios. About this time it was noised 

 about in ratdom that a prospector's cabin had been 

 erected near Paddy's new home. It is not safe to 

 state just how 



THE RATS PASSED THE WORD 



around, for it would be certain to be contradicted 

 by my good friend, John Burroughs, but it may 

 be stated that after sunset there was a great 

 rustling among the dry leaves and a swaying of 

 the fringed gentians and Indian paint brushes, 

 showing that the little mountain folks were about 

 that night. 



The next night it was very evident that the 

 word had been passed. Scarce had the sun set 

 behind the snow-covered peaks before the little 

 mountain folks assembled to break the dull 



