Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-15
Chatterer'S Last Chance.

Chatterer the Red Squirrel, running for
his life and without the least hope, sud
denly saw a last chance to escape from
Shadow the Weasel That is. he saw
something that might offer him chance.
He couldn't be sure until he had tried,
and even then he might escape from one
danger only to run right into another
equally great. What Chatterer saw was
a big brown bunch near the top of a tall
chestnut tree, and he headed for that tree
as fast as ever he could go. What was
that big brown bunch? Why, it was Red
tail the Hawk, who was doing there with
his head drawn down between his shout
ders dreaming of the warm southland.
Now, old Redtail is one of Chatterer's
deadliest enemies. He is quite as fond
of Red Squirrel as is Shadow the Weasel.
though ne doesn't often try to catch one
because there are other things 70 eat
much easier to get. Chatterer had had
more than one narrow escape from Old
Redtail, and was very much AFRAID OF MIN,
yet here he was running up the very tree
in which Recital was sitting. You see,
very daring idea had come into his head.
He had seen at once that Redtail was
doing and hadn't seen him at all.
He knew that Redtail would Just as soon
have Shadow the Weasel for dinner as
himself. and very daring plan hao
popped into his head.
Il may as well be caught by Redtail as
Shadow, he thought as he ran up the
tree. but if my plan works out right l
won't be caught by either Anyway. 1t
Is my very last chance"
Up the tree he scram bled, and after him
went Shadow the Weasel. Shadow had
been SO intent Oh catching Chatterer that
he had not noticed old Redtail which was
just as Chatterer had hoped. Up. up
he scrambled straight past old Red
tail but as he passed he pulled one of
Redtairs long tail feathers, then ran on
to the top of the tree, and. with the last
bit of strength he had left, leaped to
neighboring spruce tree, where, hidden by
and see what would happen.
OF course, when he felt his tail pulled
old Redtail was wide awake in d flash
and, of course. he looked down to see
who had dared to pull his tail. There
Just below him was Shadow the Weasel,
who had just that minute discovered who
was sitting there. Old Redtail Kissed
sharply. and the feathers on the top of
when he Is angry. And he was angry
very angry
Shadow the Weasel stopped short Then
like fash he lodged around to the other
side Of the tree. He had no thought Of
Chatterer now. Things were changed all
in fash-quite changed. Instead of the
hunter he was now the hunted. Old Red
tail circled In the air just overhead. and
every time he caught sight OF Shadow he
swooped at him with great cruel claws
spread to clutch him. Shadow lodged
around the trunk of the tree. He was
more angry than frightened, for his sharp
eyes had spied little hollow in a branch
of the chestnut tree, and he knew that
once inside Of that he would have nothing
to fear. But he was angry clear through
to think that he should be cheated out of
that dinner he had been SO sure of only a
few minutes before. So he screamed
angrily at old Redtail and then, watch
ing his chance, scampered out to the hol-
low and whisked inside just in the nick
of time.
Chatterer. watching from the spruce
tree. gave a & eat sigh of relief. He saw
Redtail the Hawk post himself on the
top of a tall tree. where he could keep
watch of that hollow in which Shadow
had disappeared. and he knew that 1t
would be a long time before Shadow
would dare poke even his nose outside.
Then as soon as he was rested Chatterer
stole softly, oh. so softly, away through
the tree tops until he was sure that Red
tail could not see him. Then he hur-
ried Yes, indeed. he hurried then. He
wanted to get just as far away from
Shadow the Weasel as he could.