A LIFE OF FEAR 197 



odds with perfect composure. I have seen a coon 

 upon the ground, beset by four men and two dogs, 

 and never for a moment losing his presence of mind, 

 or showing a sign of fear. The raccoon is clear grit. 



The fox is a very wild and suspicious creature, 

 but curiously enough, when you suddenly come face 

 to face with him, when he is held by a trap, or 

 driven by the hound, his expression is not that of 

 fear, but of shame and guilt. He seems to diminish 

 in size and to be overwhelmed with humiliation. 

 Does he know himself to be an old thief, and is that 

 the reason of his embarrassment? The fox has no 

 enemies but man, and when he is fairly outwitted, 

 he looks the shame he evidently feels. 



In the heart of the rabbit fear constantly abides. 

 How her eyes protrude ! She can see back and front 

 and on all sides as well as a bird. The fox is after 

 her, the owls are after her, the gunners are after 

 her, and she has no defense but her speed. She al- 

 ways keeps well to cover. The northern hare keeps 

 in the thickest brush. If the hare or rabbit crosses 

 a broad open exposure it does so hurriedly, like a 

 mouse when it crosses the road. The mouse is in 

 danger of being pounced upon by a hawk, and the 

 hare or rabbit by the snowy owl, or else the great 

 horned owl. 



A friend of mine was following one morning a 

 fresh rabbit track through an open field. Suddenly 

 the track came to an end, as if the creature had 

 taken wings — as it had after an unpleasant fashion. 

 There, on either side of its last foot imprint, were 



