self beyond the mouth of its den. It was evidently observing us--
which it could easily do from its elevated position--and had no
intention of coming down.

"We were about giving up all hopes of witnessing a `scene,' when our
attention was drawn to a rustling among the dead leaves in the woods
beyond. We looked in that direction. Another squirrel was running
toward the tree. It was running at full speed,--now along the fallen
logs, now through the grass and dry leaves--apparently pursued. It
_was_ pursued; for almost at the same instant its pursuer came in
sight--an animal with a long, slender body, twice the length of the
squirrel itself, and of a bright yellow colour. It was the
_pine-weasel_.

"There were not twenty feet between them as they ran; and both were
doing their best.

"I cast a glance at the rattlesnake. He knew what was coming. His jaws
were extended--the lower one drawn back until it touched his throat,--
his poisoned fangs were naked and visible; his tongue was protruded
forward; his eyes glanced like diamonds; and his whole body rose and
fell as with a quick respiration. He seemed to have dilated himself to
twice his natural size!

"The squirrel, looking only behind, ran for the tree, and, like a streak
of light, passed along the ridge and upward. We saw the snake launch
out his head as the other passed him; but so quick had been the action,
that it did not seem that he had even touched it.

"`Good!' thought we, as we saw the little squirrel sweep up the trunk,
and fancied that it was safe. Before it had reached the first fork,
however, we observed that it climbed more slowly--then faltered--then
stopped altogether. Its hind feet slipped from the bark; its body
oscillated a moment, hanging by the fore-claws, and then dropped heavily
back into the very jaws of the serpent!

"The weasel, on seeing the snake, had suddenly stopped a few feet from
it; and now ran around, doubling its long worm-like body, and
occasionally standing erect,--all the while spitting and snarling like
an angry cat. It was evidently furious at being robbed of its prey; and
we thought for awhile it was going to give battle to the snake, which
had re-coiled himself on seeing this enemy, and lay with open jaws
awaiting the attack. The body of the squirrel--now quite dead--was
close up to his coil, so that the other could not snatch it without
coming within reach of his dangerous fangs.

"On seeing this, and evid