Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

26oCAMPING AND WOODCRAFTSkunks.— Another notoriously fearless pest isthe skunk. It will turn tail quickly enough, butnothing on earth will make it run. If a skunktakes itinto his head to raid your camp he will stepright in without any precautions whatever. Thenhe will nose through all of your possessions, walkover you if you be in his way, and forty men cannotintimidate him.Once when I was spending the summer in aherder?' hut, on a summit of the Smoky Mountains,a skunk burrowed under the cabin wall and cameup through the earthen floor. It was about midnight.My two companions slept in a pole bunkagainst the wall, and I had an army cot in themiddle of the room. It was cold enough for anall-night fireon the hearth.I awoke with the uneasy feeling that some intruderwas moving about ia the darkness. Therewas no noise, and my first thought was of rattlesnakes,which were numerous in that region. I satup and lit the lantern, which hung over my head.One glance was enough. " Boys," I warned in astage whisper, " for the love of God, don't breathe;there's a skunk at the foot of my bed !"The animal was not in the least disconcerted bythe light, but proceeded leisurely to inspect thepremises.It went under my cot and nosed aroundthere for five mortal minutes, while I lay rigid asa corpse.Then Doc sneezed. I heard Andy groan fromunder his blanket: "You damn fool: now we'llget it!"But we didn't. Madame Polecat waddled totheir bunk, and Ihad a vision of two fellows sweatingblood.Then she moved over to the grub chest, foundsome excelsior lying beside it, and deliberately wentto work making anest.An hour passed. I simply had to take a smoke.My tobacco was on a shelf right over the skunk.I risked all, arose very quietly, reached over the