Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/125

 CHAPTER X

Y first recollection of skunks is a rather painful one. During my childhood I lived at the outpost of civilisation and many of the wild animals in our vicinity were trapped for their pelts.

A canny old woodchuck had been foraging in our neighbourhood for some time. The little the old fellow took to keep soul and body together certainly wouldn't bankrupt even the humblest landlord and the pleasure of the old woodchuck's company wasn't considered at all. The plaintiff was simply "red eyed" for the woodchuck's skin, so a trap was set to catch the offender.

A cruel trap it was with yawning steel jaws hungry for the blood of the poor little trespasser.

The next morning my little brother came home in a great state of excitement conveying between gasps of hurried breaths that a "Terrible big 101