ure this valuable prize, I
suppose he did not observe that such a large fierce-looking creature
was close by, or perhaps he had found from experience that there was
nothing to fear from him. However, the little fellow boldly seized his
prey, and darted off with it into the water, while the quiet old
gentleman went on munching his root again.

Now when Brush witnessed this peaceable meeting of the two animals,
proving that water-rats were not the cruel, savage tempered creatures,
they are generally supposed to be, he was so delighted, that he quite
forgot that he had intended to have been a concealed spectator of their
proceedings. So he called out as loud as he could,--

"Capital, I declare! 'Tis all a lie from beginning to end. Little
Gotobed was right after all. They _are_ a very decent, quiet set, as
he said."

But this expression of his sentiments quite interrupted the peaceable
employments of the company below, for the loud strange voice nearly
over their heads frightened them so, that they all either dived under
water, or retreated into their holes. However, the squirrel had now
satisfied his curiosity, and as he was rather frightened himself at
the disturbance he had made, he hastily leaped down from his hiding-place,
and scampered home to his nest. As for little velvet-coat, I never
heard what became of him, but no doubt he found a place to hide
himself in. But I believe I have never told you who he was. He was a
_water-shrewmouse_,[3] and very much like the common shrewmouse that
we often find lying dead in lanes and pathways. But he was larger
than the common shrewmouse, and altogether a much handsomer animal.

[3] Though this beautiful and interesting little animal, the
water-shrewmouse, was for a long time almost unnoticed by the
naturalists of this country, it cannot be considered as a rare
species. Bell, in his History of British Quadrupeds, informs us,
that it is not uncommon in many parts of England, and he says,
that its black velvet-like fur and long snout have sometimes
given rise to an opinion, that it is a small species of mole, to
which animal its structure and habits indicate a near affinity.

CHAPTER IV.

When Brush gave an account of all that he had seen to his partner, who
was of a much more cautious disposition than himself, he was rather
vexed that she still seemed not quite convinced that these water-rats
were such peaceable, goo