It was a pretty sight and a pietty shot ; but 

 I would not have had the stillness and the 

 moonlit ijicture spoiled by the blare of that 

 murderous musket for the pelts of fifty musk- 

 rats, and as the gun was cf)ming to Vnele 

 Jethro's shoulder, I slipped my hand under the 

 lifted hammer. 



With just an audible grunt of impatience the 

 old negro understood, — it was not tlie first good 

 shot that my love of wild things had spoiled for 

 him, — and the unsuspecting muskrat swam on to 

 the dam. 



A plank had drifted against the bank, and 

 upon this the little creature scrambled out, as 

 dry as the cat at home under 

 kitchen stove. Down another 

 road came a second muskrat, , 

 and, swimming across the 

 open Avater at the dam, 

 joined the first-comer 

 on the plank. They 

 rubbed noses softly— the 



sweetest of all wild-animal greetings— and a 

 mojnent nfterward began to play togethei-. 



They were out for a fi-olic, and the night was 

 [179] 



" Tbey rubbed 

 noses."' 



