THE MUSKRAT AND ITS HOME 



from shore to shore. As the sun's last rays 

 spread across their surface they burst into won- 

 derful splendor showing all the colors of the 

 rainbow. The rats were seemingly all uncon- 

 scious of the beauty that surrounded them and 

 reaching their starting place again aimlessly float; 

 or tumbling over and over in the water they 

 chase one another about as though playing a 

 game of tag. Again they are off for another race. 

 On-their return the two young rats crawled upon 

 a water-soaked log that lay near the bank on 

 the opposite side of the stream, while the big one 

 scampered up the side of the bank and disap- 

 peared. The muskrats on the log shook their 

 fur, which was as dry as though they had never 

 touched the water, and combed the hair about 

 their heads and necks with their paws. Presently 

 one of them dived from the log into the water ; 

 soon he emerged with a fresh-water clam between 

 his paws, pulled himself upon the log and sat 

 down. As soon as his companion saw the much 

 coveted morsel he tried to take it, but did not 

 succeed ; he received for his selfishness instead 

 an angry bite on his shoulder from the long, 

 sharp front teeth of the other rat and two cuts 



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