If things combined rightly, after a time the more or less young cubs of the year in the burrow would wake from their nap, and after the manner of young things, finding their parents absent, would set about to explore, one by one cautious heads appearing above ground. Woodchucks are very clever about making the entrances to their homes. They are seldom in perfectly level ground, but are protected on one side by a hillock, old corn hill, stone heap, or at least by the mound of earth thrown from the burrow itself, so that when the animal peers out it cannot at once be seen from the rear. No sooner did the young woodchucks get their heads fairly above ground, than, spying Colin skirting the field in his gambols, their attention was riveted and their curiosity aroused, for with these, as with many wild things, it is difficult to say which is the stronger instinct, caution or curiosity. In a moment more two, three, or oftentimes four young woodchucks would be seen seated sometimes a foot away from the hole, all backed toward it as for protection, their eyes fastened upon the distant dog. Often at this critical moment the old ones, sniffing danger in the wind, would start to return, only to be met by Mr. Wolf and Quick waiting in some likely nook, who, though they could not altogether conquer the experienced pair, would manage to hold them at bay and make them very late in getting home. Meanwhile Waddles waited at his post, alert, one paw raised like his attitude before the spring and rapid digging in mole hunting. As soon as the cubs were well clear of the burrow, he pounced upon the bunch, trying to land between them and the opening, giving a call to his comrades that evidently told them what to do, for sometimes they came tumbling up, and a general scrimmage ensued at close quarters, and at others the bunch would scatter over the field, followed by Waddles, while the other dogs did not come to the attack until the woodchucks had doubled and were on the home stretch. In such cases the results were usually two victims, one of which was generally either buried for future use or left on the field for a second trip, while the other was borne proudly home intact by Mr. Wolf, with head held high and important, ambling gate. In fact, no less strong a dog could carry even a two-months-old woodchuck, sometimes a full mile over stone fences and other obstruction, without at least partly dragging it along the ground. After the kill Tip, Hamlet, and Colin often lost interest and skirmished about on their own account for a while before returning; but Waddles and Quick invariably followed Mr. Wolf, and shared Miss Jule’s praise, and the plate of tidbits that were a part of it. * * * * * [Illustration: _The Reward._]