Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-07-02


temper for the starting OF a new es-
tabhshment and lost no time in set
ting about it.
The muskrats practiced eye knew
a good sight when he saw it. In front
of the old birch tree the water close
in.shore was about four feet deep
The bank overhung, and the soil
promised easy burrowing The roots
of the birch would secure the roof OF
his upper chamber from digging enc
mics, whether two-footed or four
footed, and would leave room to place
the chamber well above high water
mark, without the need of any out
side building. To make quite sure
of all these advantages he climbed
ashore and walked through the coarse
grass all around the tree Then he
ran over to the heap Of stones to see
if it contained any hidden peril.
1t did. No sooner did she hear the
scratching of strange claws upon the
stones than the mother weasel Garted
forth in fury. At the sight of the
intruder the little, beadIike eyes in
her triangular face gIowed red, and
she hurled herself upon him
Very civllly, AS he had no desire
TO give ofense, the muskrat tried to
withdraw. He boanded off into the
grass and ran for the water But the
weasel was much too quick for him.
Seeing that there was 10 escape, ne
turned to fight The next instant the
two were rolling over and over in a
life and-death struggle.
For the ordinary muskrat the very
smallest weasel, with its mad ferocity
and its lightning quickness, is much
more than a match. But this musk
rat was not only very large, but Of
unqualEng courage and not little skill
in combat; and the blOOd-thirsty
weasel presently found that she had
set herself all she could do. The
muskrats jaw had an unlooked-for
Furnishing power. He used his super
ior weight to overbear and hamper
her action. His folds of loose skin
filed her jaws unproftably, and he
was for the time successful in foiling
her efforts to get that final, fatal, grip
upon his throat or behind bis jaw,
for which she persistently strove. He
fought doggedly, and not without
hope.
It was the combat, in the grass be-
side the river, which the eagle found
so interesting. Lower and lower be
sank, watching it. And the fighters,
engroIsed in the fate that hissed upon
them in each others breath, were
blind to the doom hanging over them
in the heavens. Here, is, perhaps,
one reaeon why pitched battles be-
tween unrelenting members of the
furtive folks are less common than
might reasonably be expected. Those
chance meetings which would lead to
them are apt to take place in the
open; and while all their faculties
which are needed every moment for
their own safety are absorbed IN each
other, common foe is likely to come
and take both fighters unawares. 1t
il their destiny to hunt and be hunted; ;
but fair fighting, on even terms, is
a very perilous indulgence for the
lesser among the wild kindred.
With balanced fortunes the fight
went on in the grass, till both com
batsnts began to weaken from the loss
Of blood. Lower and lower sank the
eagle. Then the muskrat, who was
not vindictive, and hoped that per.
haps by this time his antagonist had
had enough Of it, made an effort to
draw off. This vac the fatal mistake
of the placable temper. 1t gave the
weasel. who was ablaze with implac-
able hate, the chance which her own
proves could not procure. Her
cruel jaws found the grip they wanted.
There was desperate squeak, con =
vulsive kicking; and in another mo-
ment the victor was gulping gresdily
the blood Of her prey.
1t was at this point that the eagle
decided he was hungry. His wheel
ing stopped. He dipped forward.
His wings closed almost to his sides.
His feathers hardened together, smooth
as steel; and he shot downward with
dizzy rush. When be was close to
the ground bis wings opened again
ltifiy, to check the terrific decent,