Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
BY CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS

He was up the birch tree and out the
branch before the heavy witted porcupine,
which had its back to him, had the slightest warning
of his approach.
Very cautiously now, Ishmae crept out along the
branch, which bent low beneath the increasing weight
Perhaps wondering why he had suddenly grown so
much heavier, the porcupne slowly turned, to climb
back to less precarous support Before he much
more than halfway round, he found himself confronted
at distance of few inches only, by the silent.
deadly face of Ishmael, crouched low the branch.
Instantly every quill of the porcupne's defenses
stood erect; but his position awkward that he
could not Immediately coil himself up into that ball of
needle points that all his foes SO dreaded Convul-
sively he srove to get his naked unprotected face
curled down beneath his paws But the doom before
him struck too quickly 1shmaes head darted for
ward swift and unerring a rattlers. 1t shot in
beneath the threatening frontlet of barbs and fixed
memorable fangs in the porcupnes nose.
At the same instant lshmael, who knew all possible
dangers of the situation began backing brsky up the
branch. The porcupine strove to double upon him
self so that he might lash his enemy with his armed
and powerful tail; but Ishael dragged him along too
rudely for that. Digging in his claws and holding
back with all his strength he srove to resist his captor
and to wrench his muzzle free. But he was ierked
forward SO savagey that his scant wits all but forsook
him.
The evening twilight, mysterious with its mingling
of sunset and moonrise had hitherto been voiceessy
still except for the occasional solemn twangng note of
a nighthaWk swooplng across the violet dome of sky
Now, however, the peace was broken by hideous con-
fusion of sounds suppressed but desperate Except
to Immediately beneath the tree the struggle was
unseen But the fierce rafting of branches, the breath
remorselessy from their hold the bark were elouuent
of tragedy.
Reaching the crotch of the bough, Ishmae braced
his little hind quarters securely against the main trunk
and with sudden jerk swung the porcupine clean off
his feet dashing him violently against branch below
Half stunned and wholly bewildered, the wretched
victim laid back all his quilts he swung and clawed
frantically for footing Ishmael allowed him almost
to gain one and then, he swung thus extended and
defenseess, loosed hold upon his nose and caught him
by the throat. The wretched rodents struggles grew
feeble then ceased altogether. When he hung quite
limp, lshmael let go, and the body dropped to the
ground. Following it with a rush. lest some other
hunter should foresta him. Ishmael turned it carefully
its back-knowing that all the under parts were
soft and unprotected -and fell to his meal.
Having eaten all he could with the confidence of an
for whoever might by, and betook himself to the
high and ample crotch of a neghboring beech tree
Here he proceeded to make careful toilet CLEANSING
his fine fur scrupulousy till trace of his late
sanguinary adventure remained. Then as wide awake
and keen for the chase he had had nothing to eat
for hours he slipped down from the beech tree and
raced on through the moon silvered Stiffness
PRESENTLY through the stiffness came light babble
of running water AS if memory had flashed across
him at the sound, he Swerved sharply aside and in
few seconds out upon little grassy meadow on
the shores OF shallow brook which sang softly over
its pebbles But lshmae not thirsty He paid
no heed to the water but went shifting along among the
heritage, till presently he found what he was looking for
Straighway he fell to rolling himself over and over
in it and biting at it in a sort of ecstasy What he had
found was bed OF catnp tor which potent herb he had
all the semidelrious passion
X OF the cats themselves
Having satisfied himself
with this luxury, IShmael kept