While reloading, the other daringly came out,
seized his companion by one of his legs, and before we could arrive at
the hole, had drawn him completely out of reach, although we tried to
twist him out with a ramrod.
There was a feeling in this act--a something human, which raised the
animals in my estimation; and never after did I attempt to kill one of
them, except when driven by extreme hunger.
The prairie dog is about the size of a rabbit, heavier, perhaps, more
compact, and with much shorter legs. In appearance, it resembles the
ground hog of the north, although a trifle smaller than that animal. In
their habits, the prairie dogs are social, never live alone like other
animals, but are always found in villages or large settlements. They are
a wild, frolicsome set of fellows when undisturbed, restless, and ever
on the move. They seem to take especial delight in chattering away the
time, and visiting about, from hole to hole, to gossip and talk over one
another's affairs; at least, so their actions would indicate. Old
hunters say that when they find a good location for a village, and no
water is handy, they dig a well to supply the wants of the community.
On several occasions I have crept up close to one of their villages,
without being observed, that I might watch their movements.
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