Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-06

glare OF the unclouded moon was CLASSY, hard I'M
placable 1t seemed to devitalze the strong,
stealthy forms of the gliding ynxes to change them
into pair of drifting ghosts which turned their
heads from side to side they went and flashed
from their eyes pale, blasting fire.
PUT Gray Lynx had very unghostly hunger as
= had also his mate. Suddenly his unerring eyes
detected, under spreading hemlock, a spot where
the snow had been disturbed. To less keen vision
it would have been nothing; but to Gray Lynx it
was clear, unmistakable indication. Swerving
roughness in the and began digging with his
fore paws. In a moment he half buried. for the
here in the shelter Of the trees lay softer than
in the wind beaten fields. Shifting his way by his
well instructed nose. he followed deep trail which
led toward the trunk of the hemlock, and his mate
meanwhile drew near and watched enviously.
A moment more and his head emerged amid
swirl of futtering wings and flying In his jaws
he held big cock grouse The unhappy bird had
buried himself in the snow for the night, that he
might sleep more warmly than on his roost among
the branches. For a second two his wings tapped
spasmodically then Gray Lynx crunched the life
out of him and fell to his meal
The i'll humored female crept nearer crouching
with conciatory air but Gray Lynx not of
gallant chvalrous tribe and single cock grouse
IS not half meal for starving lynx With student
snarl he thrust out one great paw in warning The
female stopped, licking her lips hungrily, then
turned like lightning and ran up a neighborng fir
tree.
Her ears had caught the sound of startled twtter
which had answered Gray Lynxs snarl. There were
buntings roosting in that tree. Her iron claws
however, clutching at the bark, announced her com
ing and for all her speed the birds escaped her.
hopping up with terrified outcry to the topmost
slender branches, where she could not go. Smarting
with disappointment she descended and continued
her prow1 at distance of twenty PAGES from
her selfish partner, who had by this time finished the
grouse.
For perhaps an hour nothing more happened. and
the temper Of Gray Lynx's mate grew momentarily
more dangerous 1t was bad enough to be SO hungry
she was; but to be first led into trap by Gray
Lynx, and then to him make meal before her
eyes, this was hardly to be borne.
All at once she gave leap to one side, turning in
the air as she sprang and came down. with forepaws
of draped BUSH Out of the corner of her eye
she had seen woodmouse. With her miraculous
speed of action, Of mighty spring unloosed she
had caught the tiny victim just as it was vanishing
under the refuge. It made but one mouthful, to be
sure; but it was quite as good as bunting
would have been. She licked her chops, gave Gray
Lynx sidelong look, and crept on.
Slowly the moon rolled up the vitreous sky, short
ening the shadows of tree and stump. The forest
was more open here, having been gone over by the
lumbermen. Dense thickets single trees ranks of
stumps, aisles and colonnades of tall second growth
not yet quite heavy enough for the woodsnan's ak.
succeeded one another in bewidering confusion.
by and BY from hemlock stump just ahead but
= hidden by some bushes came a crisp sound Of
gnawing. Both lynxes crouched fiat their absurd
60 each side of the c1ump of bushes. they crept
upon the needless gnawer. As they came in sight of
him they, stopped: It was big porcupine, fat,
Full well the ynxes knew that this quarry
for their hunting; but they could not help dalying
with the temptation They stole nearer their mouths
watering. The porcupine went on gnawing the dry
hemock; but when the 1ynxes were come within
few feet of him he stopped put his between his
fore paws and erected his needle pointed quilts till
there nothing of him to be but this threaten
ing array.
The lynxes crouched again and eyed him longngly.
At last the female her hunger getting the better Of
her discretion stole closer and reached out prying
if hoping to find weak point in the
scornful rodents defenses
Gray Lynx snarled warning; but at that
instant the porcupine' $ TAIL massive member COW