THE SQUIRREL, 239

sit in spite of me, and make my ears ring with the sound
of his war whoop, till the spring of life should cease to bubble
in his little heart.”
Tame Captain Brown tells of a gentleman who had a
Squirrels. tame squirrel, who used to run up his legs and
enter his pocket when he saw him preparing to go out.
From this safe retreat the squirrel often poked his head and
peeped at the people as they passed, but never ventured to
emerge until the crowded thoroughfares were passed. When
they reached the outskirts of the city, however, the squirrel
leaped to the ground, ran along the road, ascended trees and
hedges, with the quickness of lightning, and nibbled at the
leaves and bark. If the gentleman walked on, it would
descend, scamper after him, and again enter his pocket. On
hearing a carriage or cart, it became much alarmed, and always
hid itself till it had passed by. This gentleman had a dog,
between which and the squirrel a certain enmity existed.
Whenever the dog lay asleep, the squirrel would show its
teasing disposition, by rapidly descending from its box, scampering
- over the dog’s body, and quickly mounting to its box again.
Another squirrel who frequented his master’s pocket, on
one occasion rendered important service. One evening,
as was his practice, when his master’s coat was taken
off and hung behind a door, the squirrel ran up the door
and took up his quarters in the familiar pocket, carrying with
him a supply of tow with which to make himself comfortable
for the night. After all the family had retired to rest, a
burglar made his appearance, effected an entrance, and
proceeded to examine the pockets of the coat hanging to the
door. Putting his hand rather unceremoniously into the
squirrel’s bedroom the robber received such a sharp and
unexpected bite that he could not forbear to cry out and
the master of the house, aroused by the unusual sound,
entered the room, armed with a poker, just in time to secure
ihe thief as he was escaping through the windew.