THE BOY-HUNTER. 43 
nis long black whiskers tremble as he pricks his short ears to 
listen! Then, quick as lightning, he mounts the stump, 
frisking his pert tail at a great rate;-you can see his little 
white bosom beating fast, like a toy watch in a flurry, as he 
glances sharply round; then away he darts, pit-a-pat! leap- 
ing on another stump to look again; now he is satisfied the 
coast is clear, and with a soft chirping squeak dives down 
into the leaves, scratching them aside and pushing under 
them his inquisitive nose. Ha! another soft chirp, and he 
darts back upon the stump again, and you can see his small 
cheeks are all puffed out. Ina moment one of the acorns he 
has fuund is in his paws, and sitting up straight as a little 
goblin man, you can soon hear his sharp teeth creak! creak! 
against the hull. 
He, too, has friends that live with him; that are kin to 
