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

liule creatures, and flosted off with its living

little creatures, and foated off with its living
cargo.
We supposed they had oil succeeded in get
ting off; but in this we we're mistaken. On look
ing up to the tree again, we saw there was one
remaining. He appeared not to have got out on
the projecting branch in time for the weight Of
leach of these that preceded him, coming down
upon the log, had pushed it so for of, that he
became, no doubt, afraid to venture taking such
a long leap He was now running to and fro,
apparently in frantic state--both onaccount of
his inability to escape, and he being thus left
alone. For sometime he kept sprnging from
tree to tree, running down the trunks of all to
the very edge of the water, and stopping now
and then to look hopelessly after bis companions
AT length we saw him descend tree, whose
bark wss exceedingly rough--in fact, crisped
outward in great, broad pieces, or scales Of
foot long,and several inches broad, tat looked as
though they we're about 10 fall fsoa hetsaa. Foe
fi,is yvsa-s tie eark sAi1Ssss astsnt tn~ A4-aE-
woodsmen as the ''scay ark."-Havng descen-
ded this tree, nearly to where it rose above the
wafer, the squirrel was seen to stop; and for
moment we lost sight of him, where he was hid
den beneath one of the broad pieces of bark We
thought he had taken shelter there, intending to
rest himself. Presently, however, we saw the
bark moving backwards and forwards; and FROM
what we could see of the little animal, it was
evident that he was trying with all his might to
detach it from the tree. Occasionally he ran
out from the crevice, scratching the bark outside
with teeth and claws, aud then hurriedly disap-
peared again.
These strange manOuvers were kept up for
several minutes, while we all remained upon the
shore, watching with curiosity for the result.
AT length, we saw the piece Of bark move
rapidly outward from the trunk, and hang down
suspended only by few fbres. These was
soon gnawed by the teeth of the squirrel, and
the broad scale fell into the water. 1t hardly
touched the surface when the animal ran niInbly
down, and eaped upon it. There was no cur
rent at Llle spot WNGIc tHe OdIk lel lulU tue wa
ter and we wele in doubt whether it would car.
ry him out from among the trees but we were
soon convinced that our squirrel knew what he
was about. AS soon as he had fairly balanced
himself upon his tiny craft, he hoisted his broad
bushy tail high up in the air, by way of a sail ;
and the next moment we saw that the breeze,
catching upon it, waited the little mnrIner
slowly, but surely outward. In few seconds
he had cleared the trees; and the wind soon
brought him within the influence of the current,
which caused his bark TO float downward after
his companions.
These had well nigh reached the breastwork
for the dam; and Harry wished very much to
intercept them as they got to land. This wish,
however, was overruled by his mother, who
very Justly declared that the little creatures
deserved to escape, after having SO well amused
us by their ingenuity.
In short time they oil leaped ashore, and
went scampering off among the trees in search
Of dinner-for by this time, no doubt they
we're sufficiently hungry"