FTJR-OLAD FIGHTERS. 



133 



proper thoroughfare to the gate, and that we were in 



the way. I never saw so strange a sight. We stood 



—the baby and I — within four 



feet of the wide-open 



rustic gate, which with 



the surrounding coun- 

 try seemed entirely too 



pubUc to the weasels' 



minds. I was still more 



amazed, a moment later, 



while three or four of the 



animals were endeavoring 



to insert themselves between 



the boards of the plank walk 



set scarcely an inch apart, just 



beside the gate, to notice one 



of the individuals return a few 

 feet, saucily stare us in the face, ? 

 and with a variety of hisses and 

 grunts show his disapproval of our 

 presence. Still another, much both- 

 ered by the publicity of the meeting, 

 took refuge beneath a neighboring sun- 

 flower, and, after squeaking and grunting 

 his dissatisfaction a moment longer, con- 

 cluded to join his fellows under the plank walk. 

 After a while, with a good deal of scrambling and 



