New-York tribune., 1910-09-18
A TREE TOP A E r q N A y L
By Charles G. D. Roberts
Drawings by Charles Livingston Bull

A LTHOUGH in the open cearngs it was full
n noon-the of early September hot and
blue and godenhere in the lofty aisles OF the forest
it was all cool twilight Such light gi1nmered down
through the thick-leaved treetOpS OF a mellow,
shadowy brown and translucent green, changing from
the one tone to the other ryserouSly the eye shifted
its backgrounds One tall trunk long ago shattered and
broken off lust below the crown by stroke OF lightning
stood pointing beakly toward round opening IN the
leafy roof reaching upward thin foaged half dead,
gnared, and twisted arm.
In the outer shell and coarse, strong bark of the
stricken life fingered enacously; but its heart was
fallen to decay Near the base OF the round hole
gave entrance through the shell of live wood cham
Der in the hollow heart. The chamber had yet another
entrance, beneath knot higher on the opposite side
of the trunk Through these two holes filtered dim.
light, just strong enough to show huddle OF
small ruddy brown furry shapes sleeping snugy at the
bottom of the chamber.
The forest was as still and soundless dream, under
the spell of the MONDAY heat But presently the silence
was broken by the approach of heavy footsteps, now
cracking as they crunched the dry tWlgs now mufied
and dull they sank into beds OF deep moss. They
were plainly human footsteps for other creature but
man would crudely and heedlessly through the
forest quiet. Everyone of the wild Kindred from bear
down woodmOuse, would move with furt1Ve War1ness
desiring always to without being seen, either intent
upon some hunting solcitous to avoid some hunter
Down shadowy corridor of soaring trunks into
view two figures, tall heavy shouldered lunbernan
carving an and slim boy with light rifle in his
hand. 1t the lumbernan booted and long strding
who made all the noise The boy mOcCasns, stepped
lightly as an Indian his eager blue eyes searching every
nook and stump and branch he went hoping at every
step to surprise some of the furve wood folk.
NEAR the foot of the blasted he stopped looking
~ up. L wonder what lives in that hole up there,
Jabe?' he said.
The 1ulnberrnan peered upward critically. "Jininy!
Ef that amt likely lookin squirt tree he answered.
''Squrrel tree" echoed the boy. "As if every tree
wasn't squirrel tree, wherever there's squirrel
roundi'
Ay, but there's squirls an squirlsl You'll see re-
torted the woodsnan, and, swinging his he brought
the back of down the trunk in three or four sound
ing strokes
Straghtway dark little shape, appearing in the hole
beneath the branch launched itself into the air. 1t
looked like leap of desperation there tree
within reach of any ordinary quadrupeds leap Yet the
daring little shape plainly that of quadruped not
of bird. 1t followed instantly, in lightning
cession, by Others equally daring and all
went sailing away different directions the mys
terously shadowed air. They sailed long downward
slants with legs spread wide apart and connected
each side by furry membrane, that they looked like
kind of groesque, obong, toy umbrellas broken
loose in breeze The boy stared after them with
exclamation of wonder and delight trying to keep his