MOORLAND IDYLLS. 



surprise and delight, lo ! half a dozen merry 

 squirrels, all foraging together after the rich 

 beech-mast, which forms the larger part of 

 their winter's provender. Even as I watched, 

 one of the pretty harvesters descended the 

 trunk nimbly with his sharp small claws, and 

 approached unawares within a few feet of 

 the spot where I was sitting. No sooner 

 did he see me, however, than he gave me 

 one sharp glance from his keen black eyes, 

 perpended for a second whether to trust me 

 or not, and then, this way and that dividing 

 the swift mind, came quickly at the end to 

 the safe conclusion that men were bad lots, 

 even when they pretend to be playing the 

 observant philosopher. So up the smooth 

 bark he darted, quick as thought, finding 

 his foothold by magic, as is the wont of his 

 race, all ignorant of Newton's troublesome 

 theory of gravitation. Then, when he knew 

 himself well out of reach and secure from 

 pursuit, he turned and laughed back at me 

 with those beady black eyes of his, in merry 

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