About noon
which he had found growing in great abundance near the entrance of the ravine . Hector , in the meantime , was not idle . After having collected a good supply of ripe strawberries , he climbed the hills in search of birds ' eggs and small game . About noon he returned with the good news of having discovered a spring of fine water in an adjoining ravine , beneath a clump of bass-wood and black cherry trees ; he had also been so fortunate as to kill a woodchuck , having met with many of their burrows in the gravelly sides of the hills . The woodchuck seems to be a link between the rabbit and badger ; its colour is that of a leveret : it climbs like the raccoon , and burrows like the rabbit ; its eyes are large , full , and dark , the lip cleft , the soles of the feet naked , claws sharp , ears short ; it feeds on grasses , grain , fruit , and berries . The flesh is white , oily , and , in the summer , rank , but is eaten in autumn by the Indians and woodsmen ; the skin is not much valued . They are easily killed by dogs , though , being expert climbers , they often baffle their enemies , clinging to the bark beyond their reach .