Chapter I: Front Matter

THE HOUSE IN THE WATER

A BOOK OF ANIMAL STORIES

THE HOUSE IN THE WATER

A BOOK OF ANIMAL STORIES

BY CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS

Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," "Red Fox," "The Heart of the Ancient Wood," "The Forge in the Forest," "The Heart That Knows," etc.

Illustrated and decorated by

CHARLES LIVINGSTON BULL and FRANK VINING SMITH

THE PAGE COMPANY

PUBLISHERS BOSTON

Copyright, 1907, by Curtis Publishing Company

Copyright, 1908, by Funk & Wagnalls Company

Copyright, 1908, by The Circle Publishing Company

Copyright, 1908, by Associated Sunday Magazines, Incorporated

Copyright, 1908, by L. C. Page & Company (Incorporated)

All rights reserved

First Impression, May, 1908

Third Impression, May, 1916

THE COLONIAL PRESS

C. H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U. S. A.

CONTENTS OF THE BOOK

PAGE
The House in the Water 1
The White-slashed Bull 125
When the Blueberries Are Ripe 152
The Glutton of the Great Snow 163
When the Truce of the Wild is Done 192
The Window in the Shack 204
The Return of the Moose 225
From the Teeth of the Tide 235
The Fight at the Wallow 252
Sonny and the Kid 271

A LIST OF THE FULL-PAGE DRAWINGS IN THE BOOK

PAGE
"Began to climb out upon the crest of the dam." 7
"A foraging fish-hawk winging above." 15
"The otter moved with unusual caution." 19
"Suddenly rearing his sleek, snaky body half out of the
water." 23
"Poked his head above water." 33
"Sticky lumps, which they could hug under their chins." 41
"Twisted it across his shoulders, and let it drag behind
him." 54
"Every beaver now made a mad rush for the canal." 58
"It was no longer a log, but a big gray lynx." 62
"He caught sight of a beaver swimming down the pond." 72
"'Or even maybe a bear.'" 90
"He drowns jest at the place where he come in." 96
"Hunted through the silent and pallid aisles of the forest." 102
"A sinister, dark, slow-moving beast." 106
"He sprang with a huge bound that landed him, claws open,
squarely on the wolverene's hind quarters." 110
"It was not until the moon appeared ... that Jabe began to
call." 142
"Something gleamed silver down his side." 148
"An old she-bear with two half-grown cubs." 154
"Crept slowly around the raging and snarling captive." 170
"Snapped back at him with a vicious growl." 176
"Running in the shallow water to cover his scent" 200
"Sniffed loudly along the crack of the door." 212
"Made a wild thrust at the dreadful face." 216
"A magnificent, black, wide-antlered bull, an ungainly brown
cow, and a long-legged, long-eared calf." 228
"Pulled the butt under her chest." 248
"He 'belled' harshly several times across the dark wastes." 254
"In a flash was up again on his haunches." 268
"He curled down his abbreviated tail, and ran." 280
"In his fright the kid dropped his toadstool and stared back
at the gray animal." 292

THE HOUSE IN THE WATER