New-York tribune., 1902-03-02

a sound, but its passing was enouqb .. 'ut
the mother bird and set her forth after t1ue 1'ue
her brood. Down she flew. among the 1s ios
/ Ierns and wild roses, to the spot where the t'e'
grasshopper sat singing y single snan %
/ bill. few quick flaps Of the wings four b
| throats wide open. and the piping brown e'S
hopper was no more.
/ The clouds across the sun grew darka.
young gray owl, not yet used to the wavs % -
world, fluttered out from his hiding place -
nearby tree He flew at random, but 80
chance, either good or i'll, took him straigbt :,
the nest of the birdlings. The mother 49,
| screamed as she darted away The little On
opened their thrOats, thinking that SO much 80
meant more food; but alas, few sharp scratch
es. few bites with a rough beak and the for.
untiedged nestlings were more.
/ The clouds across the sky grew darker Va,
They gray OwIet partly flew. partly tumbIed n
/ the ground. He winked and blnked, then houn
1 dered awkwardIy toward ledge Of rockv
where he might cuddle down till nightfaH and
dream of tender birdlings. He found a snuy
nook smoOthed out his conscience. folded bis
wings and felt that to be gray Oylet was thu
best thing in all the world. Gradually his biz
/ eyes went shut. He was coming TO the first
/ part of his dream when a sly red fox whose
| den was under the same rocky ledge. thought
he smeIled owl. Out came his sharp little nose
I
He could hardly believe them So tempting
| dinner mapping at his very door. Carefully
noiselessly, the red fox pulled himself together
| The owIet dreamed on. for ne had not Yet
| learned the ways of the world Then came a
swift spring. snap of the jaws and before the
! mapping gray owlet could open his eyes he was
no more.
| The clouds grew darker and darker, my dear
| est Wee ones; they covered all the SKY The
sly red fox thought it was time to prowl, 50
out he sailed from his cave. The taste of owl
had put on his appetite keen edge for more
With a long easy trot he started across the
/ moor toward a lonely crag. 1t long way
! Whom the crag came in sight the fox stopped
| tn listen There was deep hOwl-anOther-
and another vet. When the fox cFoucAed low
| in the grass the howls came nearer Then ne
! cautiously poked up his head and learned the
truth. Wolves had seen him, and he knew it
would be a run for his life
| As long as it takes the lightning to flash its
light from one side of the sky to the other 50
| Ions, di6 II take the red fox to turn tail and
| start back the way he had come The howhns
pack was much too close for comfort Each
| howl anpeared 10 bring them closer. Then the
| fov forgot his dreams of owls, he forgot even
his cunning. and thought only of the narrow
| crevice which led to his home under the ledge
| II seemed he was gaining; the hoTLs were FUR
ther off. He slackened his pace, looked over MS
/ sboul5er and saw with relief that all but one
had given up the chase. Even that one had
/ lost ground. The race was over. No IAere
| vras the howl closer than ever The l'N trled
/ IN renew his gait. but the weary muscles "ouid
not respond The hot breath Of the fierce Wlld
| wolf was fairly upon him. one more howl a SET
or savage teeth. a rough shaking. and the sly
/ red fox was TO more
torf,us wolf unafraid. sat down 10 enjoy his
meal alone on the dark moor When the Least
WAS ended the storm was raging high, but the
,.i.tori,1Is wild wolf cared not. Near by was
1,no1fd ueanderinG stream, and thIIher ne
turned To satisfy his thirst before going home
Now the banks of the stream were irlnSed
with reeds and rushes. Through these the Wot
r,srad his way. half seeing. half feeling. and
-,,, his uoS.. WAS dipped into the cool water TOT
which his I,ua. chase and his meal had made MN
60, eager He was thinking of his weak kne-d
follow wolves who had fallen behind in the race
yyitb nrida he would go back To them Just tAen
tb..r. was a quick swish through the air Inc
wolf kne,c that there were long. keen claws IN
his sides Then came the sting of sharp teelh IN
his head and the fierce. wild VOL was no more
\ bic. tawny lion had been hiding III the
reeds ms tavny lions do. hoping some thirsty
animal would come that way and ne had ho'
been. disappointed
When the lion had finished his meal the storm
WAS over. the clouds were all gone the full
,,,,,, eboD.. calmly down. and once more every