ng the
common danger, even when the latter are their natural and habitual prey.
Nearly every one of us had observed this at some time or other; and the
old naturalist, as well as the hunter-guides, related many incidents
confirming the strange fact. Humboldt speaks of an instance observed by
him on the Orinoco, where the fierce jaguar and some other creatures
were seen quietly and peacefully floating together on the same log--all
more or less frightened at their situation!

Ike's story had very much interested the doctor, who rewarded him with a
"nip" from the pewter flask; and, indeed, on this occasion the flask was
passed round, as the day had been one of unusual interest. The killing
of a cougar is a rare adventure, even in the wildest haunts of the
backwoods' country.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE MUSQUASH.

Our next day's march was unenlivened by any particular incident. We had
left behind us the heavy timber, and again travelled through the "oak
openings." Not an animal was started during the whole day, and the only
one seen was a muskrat that took to the water of a small creek and
escaped. This occurred at the spot where we had halted for our
night-camp, and after the tents were pitched, several of the party went
"rat-hunting." The burrow of a family of these curious little animals
was discovered in the bank, and an attempt was made to dig them out, but
without success. The family proved to be "not at home."

The incident, however, brought the muskrat on the _tapis_.

The "muskrat" of the States is the musquash of the fur-traders (_Fiber
sibethicus_). He is called muskrat, from his resemblance to the common
rat, combined with the musky odour which he emits from glands situated
near the anus. Musquash is said to be an Indian appellative--a strange
coincidence, as the word, "musk" is of Arabic origin, and "musquash"
would seem a compound of the French _musque_, as the early Canadian
fur-traders were French, or of French descent, and fixed the
nomenclature of most of the fur-bearing animals of that region.
Naturalists have used the name of "Musk Beaver" on account of the many
points of resemblance which this animal bears to the true beaver
(_Castor fiber_). Indeed, they seem to be of the same genus, and so
Linnaeus classed them; but later systematists have separated them, for
the purpose, I should fancy, not of simplifying science, but of creating
the impression that they themselves were very profound obs