s clawed to pieces like mine are, thee wouldst have said
the varmint was _wild_ enough, in all conscience, without waiting for
any _learned gentleman_ to tell thee so. How my face do smart to be
sure! And look at my new jacket! All burnt and torn to pieces! 'T was a
wonder my arm wasn't blown off too. Well, boy, 't was a bold shot, and
I can't tell what I should have done if somebody hadn't been by. But
come, throw the beast over thy shoulder. I must go home and get mother
to put some plaister on these bites and scratches."

At the very beginning of this fierce conflict, all the squirrels,
except the father of the family, fled from the scene of action, and in
five minutes they were safe in the nest. But Brush was so determined to
see the end of the affair, that he remained concealed in the
hazel-tree, till Dick had fired the finishing shot; and then, being
convinced that he had nothing more to fear from his old enemy, he
scampered off to his home, to relate what he had seen.

CHAPTER VIII.

I have not much more to tell you about "Squirrels and other Animals,"
for by the time the tenants of the oak-tree had collected a good stock
of provisions, the weather had become rather cold and dismal, and it
seemed likely that the winter would set in very early that year. But
the time for their long sleep was not yet quite arrived, and on fine
days they were still to be seen abroad, roaming about from tree to
tree, and sometimes bringing home a few more nuts and acorns. But to
find these they were now obliged to search on the ground, for the wind
had shaken the ripe fruit from the trees. Now they were relieved from
the dread of being seized by their terrible enemy, they could ramble
about where they pleased.

One day as they were rummaging about among the dry leaves, under the
hazel-bushes, the squirrels fell in with the very oddest creature they
had ever seen. They had heard from Leatherwing that such an animal
lived in the woods, but they did not think they should ever meet with
him, as the bat had told them that he never came abroad till it was
dark. But the old fellow was mistaken a little for once in his life,
for here this most extraordinary looking creature certainly was, in the
middle of the day.[11] From the description Brush had received of this
animal, he knew at once that he was one _Touchmenot_, a hedgehog; and
that though he was considered to be rather a queer-tempered fellow, he
was not likely to do him a