There was on the edge of the timber a large fir that the shingle-maker had felled when he first built his house or shack, but had not used, owing to the hardness of the grain.  It lay on the earth, but still connected with its high stump, forming a kind of natural fence.  Around it were beds of red phlox, red whortleberry bushes, and wild sunflowers.

The horny stump and fallen tree had been made very interesting to Mrs. Woods in her uneventful life by a white squirrel that often had appeared upon it, and made a pretty picture as it sat eating in the sun, its head half covered with its bushy tail.  White squirrels were not common in the timber, and this was the only one that Mrs. Woods had ever seen.

“I wish that I could contrive to catch that there white squirrel,” she said to Gretchen one day; “it would be a sight of company for me when you are gone.  The bear used me mean, but I kind o’ like all these little children of Natur’.  But I don’t want no Injuns, and no more bears unless he comes back again.  The schoolmaster may like Injuns, and you may, but I don’t.  Think how I lost my saw; Injun and all went off together.  I can seem to see him now, goin’.”

As Mrs. Woods drew near the fallen tree she looked for the white squirrel, which was not to be seen.  Suddenly the bushes near the stump moved, and she saw the most evil-looking animal that she had ever met drawing back slowly toward the fallen tree.  It was long, and seemed to move more like an immense serpent than an animal.  It had a catlike face, with small ears and spiteful eyes, and a half-open mouth displaying a red tongue and sharp teeth.  Its face was sly, malicious, cruel, and cowardly.  It seemed to be such an animal as would attack one in the dark.  It was much larger than a dog or common black bear.

Mrs. Woods raised her gun, but she thought that she was too far from the house to risk an encounter with so powerful an animal.  So she drew back slowly, and the animal did the same defiantly.  She at last turned and ran to the house.

“Gretchen,” she said, “what do you think I have seen?”

“The white squirrel.”

“No; a tiger!”

“But there are no tigers here; so the chief said.”

“But I have just seen one, and it had the meanest-looking face that I ever saw on any living creature.  It was all snarls.  That animal is dangerous.  I shall be almost afraid to be alone now.”

“I shall be afraid to go to school.”

“No, Gretchen, you needn’t be afraid.  I’ll go with you mornin’s and carry the gun.  I like to walk mornin’s under the trees, the air does smell so sweet.”

That night, just as the last low tints of the long twilight had disappeared and the cool, dewy airs began to move among the pines, a long, deep, fearful cry was heard issuing from the timber.  Mrs. Woods started up from her bed and called, “Gretchen!”

The girl had been awakened by the cry, which might have been that of a child of a giant in pain.