The Autumn Wood-Path 



nibbled shoots of birch and alder, where the 

 rabbit or hare has browsed them by the 

 light of the moon; for these little animals 

 are both night-feeders, shy, big-eyed and 

 big-eared, secretive and cautious, as be- 

 hooves such tender, toothsome creatures, the 

 chosen prey of man and beast. 



Here, where the path dips down beside 

 the brook, is a wet, flat stone, just aban- 

 doned by a muskrat (I heard his splash as 

 I drew near) that was nibbling a wild par- 

 snip. It would be useless to look for his 

 hole, for it is well hidden under the bank, 

 beneath the surface of the water, and slants 

 upward to some dry, grass-lined nest above 

 the water-line. 



A little farther along I catch a glimpse of 

 the dark, slim, lithe body of an otter, glid- 

 ing rapidly over the stones to a deep pool, in 

 which he vanishes. No doubt he has been 

 fishing, in his quiet, patient way, lying by 

 the water's edge, ready to pounce with claws 

 and teeth upon any unwary trout or minnow 

 that ventured too near. 



It is curious how averse a fox is to wet- 

 ting even the soles of his dainty feet! I 

 was walking along this same brook, one Oc- 

 167 



