The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-12

to the trunk about four feet from the
ground, head downwards, every faculty
occupied by some object | could not see.
as 1t was hidden by the rocks and under
brush at the foot OF the tree.
The squirrel was in a state Of the Wild
est excitement; his eyes were sparkling,
his tail was tWitching, while with all his
might he scolded at the object whatever
IL was below. AT times he would turn
and dash up the tree for a few feet, but
he always came back. and gradually got.
foot by foot, inch by inch nearer and
nearer the ground.
Noiseessly shifting my position. a close
scrutiny discovered a black snake about
four feet long, not coiled, but extended
at It's full length, absolutely motlonless.
/ could not see it's head, as that was hid
den under some leaves. nor do / think
that 81 was visible to the squirrel There
could be no doubt how the matter would
end and just then the distant whistle
warned me to be moving. SO, as l could
not wait, and do not especially favor
snakes / threw a stone at the snake,
and the drama came to quick conclusion,
the snake instantly disappearing unhurt,
while the squirrel fed to the highest
branches of the beech.
/ was very much puzzled at what / had
seen. II that was understanding. 1t was
very different from the kind OF charming
of which / had read and heard. The
squirrel was not hypnotized and showed
absolutely no fear; the only emotions that
Il did show were anger and curiosity, and
the snakes part was passive one.
The same year / was partridge shooting
in the mountains, on a September day,
and came out of the woods upon a ledge
OF rock that dropped In a sheer wall some
twenty feet below. The day was hot. and
/ stretched myself upon bed Of pine
needles TO enjoy the breeze and the view.
A IgfsIr Mt he hTf ~ he
cliff and one OF lis branches stretched
over the ledge on which was lying, and
reached nearly TO my face.
While half asleep. my attention was at
tracted by the quick bark OF a red squir-
rel. and ! caught sight or the little chap
on the trunk OF the hemlock. al the butt
OF the bough above mentioned Half clos
ing my eyes, i remained motiOnless, and
the little creature came towards me a
short distance. along the bough. barking
with all rs might, and endeavoring IN
every way IN is power 10 attract my at
tentiOn. IL would run towards me along
the bough, stop, bark, then. with a quick
hirt Of It's tail run back to the tree trunk,
always returning however. and getting
nearer and nearer each time, until certain
~ a space Of not more than eighteen
inches separated as.
The expression on its face was most
amusing. II did No Deem 10 be alarmed.
but its SOFT brown eyes beamed
with excite curiosity, and all ITS
EFFORTS 70 make me move IN
I w could grasp the bough
wiz. toes and shake the
bough lille II never for "a mo-
ment cease hatterlng. Finally. how
ever finding b. irksomo 10 remain ALSO
lutely mOti0nicss when the little animal
was within a foot OF my face. with its
eyes fixed upon me, / broke into a laugh.
1ne transformation was instantaneous.
For one short awful moment the squirrel
was transhxod with horror and then fair.
~ tumbled over Itself IN is effort TO gain
% safe distance, while every hair on Us
body showed It's terror.
] now believe that the so-called charm
INK OF snakes Is nothing but exciting the
creatures curiosity. and that It rouses
the same Instinct that IN the old days
brought the prong-horn antelope up 10 the
red nag; that causes the startled deer, AFT.
or its first bounds. to pause and look
back, and that brings the ducks IN a wave
up TO the beach, while the little yellow
dog runs backward ana forward before
them and brings them within reach Of
their destroyer