Woodsy neighbours of Tan and Teckle . the brook carried a little more water thanusual the entrance was under water, and to hisgreat delight the muskrat could dive underthe surface and come up inside his own tunnel. The other entrance was through the hollowstump. The tap root—the big, central rootthat goes straight down—was hollow its entirelength. And Tan and Teckle and the musk-rat, among them, had gnawed a hole in thetap root so that they could pass freely backand forth, though they did not often use itas a door. The muskrat, especially, seldompassed through the stump, preferring to glidefro
Woodsy neighbours of Tan and Teckle . the brook carried a little more water thanusual the entrance was under water, and to hisgreat delight the muskrat could dive underthe surface and come up inside his own tunnel. The other entrance was through the hollowstump. The tap root—the big, central rootthat goes straight down—was hollow its entirelength. And Tan and Teckle and the musk-rat, among them, had gnawed a hole in thetap root so that they could pass freely backand forth, though they did not often use itas a door. The muskrat, especially, seldompassed through the stump, preferring to glidefrom his front door into the water, and notshow himself on the land at all. But it wassometimes very convenient to have anotherway in and out, as you shall presently see. One night Tan and Teckle were outside thestump, sitting on the bank of the brook, nib-bling at grass roots, and enjoying the warmautumn air, always keeping a sharp lookoutfor enemies. Here comes the muskrat, said Tan, as asmall, black head came into view around the. FAIRLY HURLED HIMSELF INTO THE WATER ANOTHER KILLER 199 bend up stream, a tiny ripple spreading awayfrom each side. I thought he was alreadyinside. How happy he must be. He getsnearly all his food in the water, seldom has toshow himself on land, and seems to have noenemy but the owl. He is quieter than usual, observedTeckle. I believe he is not coming in at all—yes, there he is turning to the bank. At first the small, black head had seemedabout to keep on down the stream, but just asit got abreast the muskrats tunnel it paused,turned, and made abruptly for the mouth ofthe tunnel. The next moment the muskratcame tearing out of the stump at top speed,ran to the edge of the bank, and fairly hurledhimself over into the water with a loudsplash. Run, Little Brother, while you can ! heexclaimed as he went over. If Tan and Teckle had watched him theywould have seen that the muskrat did notcome to the surface until he had swam a longway. Then he merely p
Size: 1291px × 1936px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishe, booksubjectanimals
