Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-06-10
Mlistelloneons.
The sagacious Squirrel.

The following squirrel story we take from
Captain Mayne Red's interesting work just pub
shed by 'rcknor & Co., entitled The Desert
Home" This, and similar sketches in the same
book ARE founded on actual characteristics in the
habits of the animals.
While we thus stood watching the movements
of our beavers, and conversng about the habits
of these interesting animals, an incident occurred
which very much amused us, and proved the
beavers we're not the only animals gifted with
extraordinary sagacity.
Near the middle of the lake stood a cump of
tall trees their trunks immersed for two or three
feet under the water. These trees had been
upon the bank of the rivulet previous to the for
nation of the dam and they were now surroun.
ded on all sides, forming kind of timber islet'
1t was evident however, that they were destined
to decay, as they were trees of poplar species,
and such as could not live with their roots cov-
cred with water.
aHfoHg ssse-espS CT tiss trees, we observed ~eS-s
eral small animals leaping nimbly about from
branch to branch, and from tree to tree. They
were squirrels. They seemed to be laboring
under some unusal excitement, as though they
had been alarmed by the presence of an enemy
But there did not appear to be any such enemy
near them. We noticed that they passed from
tree to tree, running down the trunks of each as
far as the water would allow them and then,
after looking outward, as if they intended to
leap into the lake, they would suddenly turn
back, and gallop into the high branches. There
we're, in all, about dozen of them; but the
nimbleness with which they passed from place
to place would have led one to believe that there
were ten times that number and the twigs and
leaves were constantly kept in motion, as though
a flock Of birds were tiocking through>shem.
We noticed these animals before,E s. }om time
to time, dasbing about in the same clump of
trees but not thinking it anything unusual, had
paid no attention to their movements. Now, how
ever it occurred to us that, these little creatures
who never take to water unless compelled by ab-
solute necessity, had been cut off from their
usual range BY the forming of the dam, and
we're held where they were in a state of captiv-
ity. This was the more evident, as the trees
had been stripped of many of their leaves, and
the bark pealed from the more tender twigs and
branches. 1t was plain that the squirrels had
been living for some time upon short allowance,
and were anxious to get off from the place.
We now saw what was causing the unusual
commotion among them at that particular time
Near the clump Of trees, but higher up the lake,
small log was floating in the water. 1t had
somehow got into the stream above, and was be.
ing borne down by the current. 1t was at this
moment nearing the little island of timber upon
which were the squirrels; but it came on very
slowly, as the current through the lake was hard
y perceptible. II was this log that was causing
such furry and the animals evidently intended
should it come near enough, to use it as raft.
We seated ourselves to watch their manguvers.
On camo the log, slowly and gradually but, in.
stead of drifting directly for the timber, it was
borne by the current in direction that would
carry it at least twenty yards from the tree. The
squirrels had gathered up that side and now
instead, of running up and down the trunks, as
before, they all stood upon the topmost branches,
apparently watching the motions of the log.
"Poor little creatures !" said Mary '' they
will be unable to reach it, after all. What a
} pity"
Just as she made this reflection, the log foated
forward to the point where it was likely to be
nearest to the clump in passing. A long
branch stretched out in that direction but as we
calculated the drift wood was not likely to pass
nearer than twenty yards. On this branch, how.
ever, the squirrels had now gathered one behind
he other, in long string and we could see the
foremost of them strainiDg himself as if to spring
"Surely, they do not intend--surey, they can
not leap so far !'' said Mary, as we all stool
holding our breath, and watching them with in.
tense curiosity.
Yes Mssa," replied Guido " de do intend
Gosh de leap him too. Dis nigga see 'em ii
Vagnny leap far furer Looky now Yonde
de go-wap!"
AS Cudjo spoke, the foremost squirrel Launched
out into the air, and the next moment pouncet
upon the log. Then another followed, and anothe
looking like 80 many birds flying through the all
in a strinr until fhe log was cnvered with fhf