“Mr. Hillier,” began Andy, “what. . . .”
“Mr. Hillier! Hell! My name’s John,” exploded the trapper.
“I was goin’ to ask you what kind o’ meat that is that smells so good,” grinned Andy.
“Muskrat.”
“What?”
“Muskrat,” repeated their host, turning to the astonished Australian. “Did ye ever eat any?”
“No,” returned Andy weakly, “I don’t care much for meat anyway.”
“They’re darn good eatin’,” affirmed the trapper. “Reason folks won’t try ’em is because they think that they are a rat. Their right name is musquash, and they live on vegetable food only. Did any of you fellers ever see ‘Diamond Back Terrapin’ on a bill-of-fare in restaurants?”
“I have, many times,” answered Donald.
“Well, ’bout half the time when the waiter hands ye what ye think is turtle he’s givin’ you musquash,” stated the trapper as he speared a cube of butter with a long fork and shot it accurately to the debated dish.