118 NINTH EVENING.

companions, had the misfortune to be caught. No
mercy was shown them, but as they were taken out
one by one, their necks were all broken. |
Indur was not immediately sensible of the next
change he underwent, which was into a Dormouse,
fast asleep in a hole at the foot of a bush. As it was
in a country where the winter was rather severe, he
did not awake for some weeks; when a thaw. having
taken place, and the sun beginning to warm the earth,
he unrolled himself one day, stretched, opened his
eyes, and not being able to make out where he was, he ~
aroused a female companion whom he found by his
side. When she was sufficiently awakened, and they
both began to feel hungry, she led the way to a maga-
zine of nuts and acorns, where they made a comfort-
able meal, and soon fell asleep again. This nap having
lasted a few days, they awoke a second time, and
having eaten, they ventured to crawl to the mouth o1
their hole, where, pullmg away some withered grass
and leaves, they peeped out into the open air. After
taking a turn or two in the sun, they grew chill, and
went down again, stopping up the entrance after
them. The cold weather returning, they took another
long nap, till at length spring having fairly set in, they
-. aroused in earnest, and began to make daily excursions
abroad. Their winter stock of provisions being now
exhausted, they were for some time reduced to great
straits, and obliged to dig for roots and pig-nuts.
Their fare was mended as the season advanced, and
they made a nest near the bottom of a tree, where they
brought up a young family. They never ranged far
from home, nor ascended the higher branches of the
tree, and passed great part of their time in sleep, even
during the midst of summer. When autumn came,
‘they were busily employed in collecting the nuts,
acorns, and other dry fruits that fell from the trees,
and laying them up in their storehouses under-ground.
One day, as Indur was closely engaged in this occupa-_
tion, ati some distance from his dwelling, he was seized