Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-04-06


the sloping trunk. As that gliding shape
came out into patch of moonlight, hi
half closed his downy wings above his
back and swooped upon it soundlessly
Just as he did so, IshmaeI looked up witt
wide -,nouthed Snarl. There was some
thing in that snarl so terrifying that The
great owl realized he had made a mis-
take.
With violent flap he veered aside
But it was close thing for him. IShma-
els little neck shot out, and his fangS
sank into the owls padded thigh. He
got no more, however, than a mouthfu
of very downy feathers. And the dis
comfited bird, Tapping hastily away from
so dangerous proximity, left him fu-
riouSIy paving at his mouth to rid HIM
self of the clinging, exasperating fluff.
Reaching the ground, Ishmael ran on
in an evil temper. He was not expecting
game in that neighborhood; so he went
in haste, travelI G in long noiseless leaps,
the very embodiment OF force, speed,
and precision. But in order not to miss
any opportunity the chances OF the chase
might throw in his way, he went with
his nose held high, alert to catch any
passing scent.
Emerging from the hemlock gloomS, he
entered region OF young second growth,
where thicketS of half grown fir and
spruce interminged with patches OF birch,
poplar, maple, and cherry. Here, on a
sudden, strong scent drew across his
nostrils. He stopped as il shot and Stif-
fened to instant rigidity, half erect, muz-
zle held high, while his keen nose ques-
toned the air in every direction. The
scent was that OF porcuplne. and it was
so fresh, so inSistent, that he knew the
prickly beast must be close at hand. His
implacabe eyes, sharp and close set,
peered all about him. AT last. glancing
upward, he caught sight Of dark ball
Swayng far out on a slender bough OF a
tall birch tree.
Now, the porcupine is quarry which
the rest of the forest hunters are loath to
NEEDLE with. His deadly quiIls, sharp
as needles, and so armed with tiny barbS
that, once fixed, they will work their way
ever inward inexorably till they reach,
perhaps, a vital spot, are peril that only
starvation itself will drive the weasel, the
fox, or the lynx to face. But lShmael
had the secret of dealing with porcupineS.
And he knew that the flesh beneath that
dangerous armor was strong and satisfy
ing. He was up the birch tree and out
on the branch before the eavy Witted
porcupine, which had its back to him,
had the slightest warning of his approach.
Very cautiously now, lShmael crept
out along the branch, which bent low be-
meath the increasing weight. Perhaps
wondering why he had suddenly grown
so much heavier, the porcupine SLOWLY
turned, to climb back to less precariouS
support. Before he was much more than
halfway round, he found himself con-
fronted, at distance OF a few inches on
Iy, by the silent, deadly face OF lshmael,
crouched low on the branch.
instantly every quill of the porcupine'S
defenSeS stood erect; but his position
was so awkward that he could not i'm
mediately coil himself up into that ball OF
needle points that all his foes so dreaded.
Convulsively he strove to get his naked,
unprotected face curled down beneath
his paws. But the doom before him
struck too quickly. Ishmae'S head dart
ed forward, swift and unerring as rat
tiers. 1t shot in beneath the threatening
frontlet of barbs, and fixed inexorable
fangS in the porcupine'S nose.
AT the same instant IShmael, who knew
all possible dangers OF the situation, be-
gan backing briskly up the branch. Th.
porcupine Strove to double upon HIM
self, so that he might lash his enemy
with his armed and powerful tail but
lshmaeI dragged him along too rudely for
that. Digging in his claws and holding
back with all his strength, he strove to
resist his captor and TO wrench his muz-
zle free But he was jerked forward so
Savagely that his scant wits all but for
sock him.
The evening twilight, mysterious with
IFS minglng Of sunset and moonTSe, had
hitherto been voicelesSly still except for
the occasional solemn twangling note OF
a nighthawk swooping across the violet
dome OF sky. Now, however. the peace
was broken by a hideous confusion OF
sounds, suppressed but desperate. Ex-
cept to one Immediately beneath the tree,
the struggle was unseen. But the fierce
rattling OF branches, the breathleSS, grunt-
ing squeaks, the tearing OF claws dragged
remorseleSsly from their hold on the bark,
were eloquent Of tragedy.
Reaching the crotch OF the bough, lsh-
mael braced his little hind quarters Sc
curely against the main trunk and with a
sudden jerk swung the porcupine clean
off his feet, dashing him violently against
a branch below. Halt stunned and
wholly bewildered, the wretched victim
laid back all his quills as he swung, and
clawed franhcally TOR footing. lshmael
allowed him almost to gain one; and
then, as he swung thus extended and de-
fenseleSS, 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, Ishmael let go, and the body drop
ped to the ground. Following it with
rush, lest some other hunter should fore
stall him, Ishmael turned it carefully ovel