88 The Muskrat 



prongs about eight inches long, while the others are 

 each armed with an axe. 



The party, thus properly equipped, arrives at the 

 marsh and cautiously approaches a muskrat lodge on 

 the southern exposure. This side being naturally the 

 warmest, the muskrats are more apt to be found here, 

 resting snugly in their warm beds. The experienced 

 hunter can usually locate the exact spot above the 

 muskrats by the delicate frostwork upon the outside 

 of the lodge, produced by the warmth of their bodies. 

 This spot having been located, the spearman drives the 

 sharp prongs through five or six inches of the lodge 

 wall, and usually pins one or more of the inmates; 

 another hunter instantly breaks the lodge open with 

 his axe, and assists in securing the muskrats already 

 speared by his companion; while the other hunters 

 watch for the escaping muskrats, as they plunge into 

 the water at the first indication of outside disturbance. 

 Usually the water is not very deep and the muskrats 

 swim quite close to the ice. A sharp blow with the 

 head of the axe upon the ice directly above the musk- 

 rat will ordinarily stun it so effectually that when a 

 hole is cut in the ice, the game may be secured without 

 difficulty. If the lodge is not badly demolished and the 

 weather not too severe, the surviving muskrats will re- 

 turn the following night to repair their home. Thus 



