74 FOUR-HANDED FOLK 



and made preparations for the night ; then at the 

 last moment he cautiously lifted his blanket with 

 one hand, to see if the intruder were still there, 

 and seeing him, popped out like a Jack-in-a-box, 

 to remonstrate and scold, and demand, in his 

 way, that things be restored to their usual order. 

 He took great offense at any change in my dress, 

 and if it were marked, as from a black to a 

 white dress, he utterly refused to take his food 

 from my hand, but chattered and " weaved " at 

 me across the room. 



A striking peculiarity of the odd little beast 

 was his refusing to become familiar with us. 

 After he had been in the family room for about 

 four months, and taken his food from our hands, 

 he was still scared out of his wits if we attempted 

 to touch him. I never before had beast or bird 

 who did not after a while cease to be suspicious, 

 so that, while they might not allow liberties, 

 they were not afraid. But that strange fellow, 

 so long with us, persisted in regarding us as 

 enemies, and resented our slightest touch, with 

 screams that were truly appalling in one of his 

 size. I attempted once to give him a treat by 

 carrying his box, with him in it, to the window, 

 so that he could look out. At my first movement 

 he shrieked with terror, as if I were murdering 

 him. He could not have made a greater outcry 

 if I had actually attempted his life. 



