GREENFORD SETTLEMENT--THE FLYING SQUIRRELS--MIKE LAFFAN AND TOM QUAMBO--
THEIR DOGS, YELP AND SNAP--A RACCOON-HUNT--MIKE HAVING SEEN A BEAR, WE
GO IN CHASE--OUR DOGS SCENT BRUIN--QUAMBO IN DANGER--THE BEAR IS KILLED,
AND QUAMBO RELEASED--WE RETURN TO THE HUT--THE LOGGING BEE--UNCLE
STEPHEN'S HOUSE--INDIAN SUMMER--MIKE LAFFAN'S CREMONA--THE NIGHT ATTACK
OF THE WOLVES--WE DETERMINE TO GO LUMBERING FOR THE WINTER--MIKE AND I
GO ON AHEAD--UNCLE MARK IS ATTACKED BY A WOLF--MIKE SAVES HIM, AND WE
PROCEED ONWARDS.
We had only lately, as I have already said, arrived at our new location.
My uncles had been imbued with the restless spirit of backwoodsmen, and
Aunt Hannah was ready to do whatever Uncle Stephen wished. So, having
grown weary of the life at Watfield, where we had at first been located,
they had resolved, along with several other inhabitants of that place,
to push westward; and after making their way through forests, rivers,
and swamps, and over hills and plains, had formed the new settlement
where Uncle Stephen now was, and which they had named Greenford.
To the hut where Uncle Mark and I lived no name had been given; but he
expressed his belief that it would one day become the centre of a great
city. "Before that day arrives, however, you and I, Roger, will have
moved far away westward," he observed.
I used to exercise diligence while I was at work, in order that I might
have more time to attend to the study of natural history. My great
delight was to get away into the forest and observe the habits of its
various inhabitants. Often would I sit on the root of an old tree
watching the playful squirrels at their gambols. When I spied a hole in
which I knew that a family were likely to have taken up their abode, I
would hide myself; and before long I was generally rewarded by seeing a
"papa" squirrel poking out his nose. Soon he would give an inaudible
sniff, sniff, sniff, then out would come his head, and he would look
round to ascertain whether danger was near. Presently I would catch
sight of his thick furry body and lovely brush, the tail curling over
his head. Then another nose would appear, and large shining eyes; and
out another would pop; followed in rapid succession by the whole family.
Then, how delightful it was to watch them frolicking about, darting
round the trunks, sending the bark rattling down as they chased each
other; whisking their tails; darting along the boughs, and bounding
fearlessly from branch to branch. One, reaching the end of a bough,
would spread out its arms and tail, exhibiting the white fur beneath,
and fly down to a lower branch, or to the earth below, followed by its
companions; then away they would go along the logs or swinging vines,
and up another trunk, quick as lightning. Sometimes I would catch them
at their supper, nibbling away at the nuts which they had plucked, or
had dug out of the ground with their sharp little paws.
A flying squirrel is indeed a beautiful creature. Its colour is a most
delicate grey; the fur thick and short, and as soft as velvet; the eyes
large and full. The membrane by which it is enabled to take its flights
is of a soft texture, and white, like the fur of the chinchilla. The
tail greatly resembles an elegantly-formed broad feather.
One day, as I was wandering along the banks of a stream, for the purpose
of observing the habits of a family of beavers that had lately made
their abode there, I caught sight of a number of squirrels. They were
evidently about some important operation, since they were moving
steadily along the branches, and refraining from their usual frisking
and playing. Having concealed myself from their view, in order that
they might not be disturbed by my presence, I noticed that they went on
until they reached the branch of a tree overhanging the stream, at the
extreme end of which one, who appeared to be their leader, took post,
looking eagerly up the current. In a short time a small log floated
near, with a tendency to move over to the opposite side. As it came
beneath the leader of the party he dropped down upon it, at the same
time uttering a sharp cry. Quick as lightning some others followed his
example; and by holding on to the lower twigs they arrested its progress
until the whole party were seated on board, when the log was allowed to
float, as they sagaciously knew it would, towards the opposite bank. It
seemed to me as if some of them were steering it with their tails; but
of that I am not positive. In a short time, after floating some way
down the stream it was guided to the shore; when one after the other
leaped off, and quickly running along the boughs of the trees, gained a
point exactly opposite to that from which they had started; after which
they went away into the forest,--bent, I doubted not, on some predatory
expedition. They would soon make their presence known, when they
reached the pumpkin-grounds or maize-fields of the settlers.
I was not always alone in my rambles through the forest. Lily would
have been only too happy to accompany me, but Aunt Hannah judged it
prudent to keep her at home; and, indeed, she had plenty of occupation
there. My chief companion, therefore, was one of Uncle Stephen's
labourers--an Irishman, Mike Laffan by name.
Although Mike had no great knowledge of natural history, he was as fond
of searching for animals as I was, and consequently was always ready to
accompany me when he had the chance. He was an honest fellow; a
thorough Patlander in look, manners, language, and ideas. When he
could, he used to press Tom Quambo, an old free negro, into the service;
and Quambo enjoyed the fun as much as Mike did. Each possessed a dog,
of which they were very proud, ugly as the animals were to look at.
"Den, you see, massa, if Yelp not 'ansome, he know eberyting," Quambo
used to remark. "He braver dan painter [meaning the puma], and run like
greased lightning."
It was difficult to say whether Yelp or Mike's dog was the ugliest; but
both masters were equally proud of their canine friends.
I too had a dog, which, if not a beauty, was certainly handsomer than
either of his two acquaintances. He was clever enough in his way, but
more useful in watching the hut than in hunting; indeed, when I went out
by myself for the purpose of observing the habits of the denizens of the
forest, I never took him, knowing that he would only interfere with
their sports.
On one occasion I had been over to see my Uncle Stephen, and as I was
returning home Mike Laffan met me.
"Would you loike to be afther looking for a 'coon to-night, Masther
Roger?" he asked. "Quambo says he can come; and Yelp and Snap are
moighty ager for the sport."