Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-09-24
Shephrdsow Jefferson Thursday September a. 1914

SCI lllo ndliO dnu lilSu hltHuIdNH IT, ScS.IS
always place OF peculiar fascination TO
the creatures of the wilderness. They
have some sense, perhaps, OF having re-
gained lost dominion. Or possibly
they think, from these, his leavings, 10
learn something significant OF Mans
mysterious over-lordship. In any case,
the attraction seldom fails.
The tramp had not been long gone,
when new visitor arrived. Up from
the fringing bushes along the streams
edge came furtively little, low, long
bodied beast, in shape much like an ex-
aggerated weasel, but almost black in
color. lis head was almost triangular;
IFS eyes, set near together, were bright
and cruel. II came halfway across the
meadow, then stopped, and eyed for
some time the tethered horse and the
deserted wagon. Seeing nothing TO take
alarm at, it made wide circuit, ran be-
hind the cabin, and reappeared, as the
fox had done, at the corner nearest 10 the
wagon. From this point OF vantage If
surveyed The situation anew, a little spark
of blood-red fire alternately glowing and
fading in its eyes as its keen noStrilS
caught the scent OF The fish.
Satisfied al length that there was no
danger within range, the mink glided up
to the wagon. The horse it paid no heed
to. 1t circled the wagon couple OF times
in a nervous, jerky run, its head darling
this way and that, till its nose assured it
beyond question that the fish it scented
were in the wagon itself. Thereupon.-
for the mink lacks the fox's hair splitting
astutenesS and does not take long 10 make
up its mind-it clambered nimbly up
through one Of the wheels, and fell
straightwaY upon the fish h-baSket.
Now the tramp, courteous in his dep
relations, had taken thought to refasten
the basket The mink was puzzled.
The hole in the top OF the basket, though
he might have squeezed his head through
it, was not large enough 10 let him reach
the fish, He began jerking the basket
and pulling it about SavagelY. The back
OF the wagon consisted OF hinged flap,
and the fishermen had left il hanging
down. The basket, dragged this way
and that, came presently to the edge,
toppled over, and fell heavily 10 the
ground, on IFS bulging side. The fasten-
ing came undone, and the cover Hoped
half-open. The mink dropped down be-
side it, flung himself upon it furiously,
and began jer ing out and scattering the
contents, tearing mouthfuls from one fish
after another in paroxySm OF greed, as
if he feared they were still alive and might
get away from him.
The basket emptied and his first rage
glutted, the mink now fell 10 the business
OF making a serious meal. Selecting a
fish TO his taste. he ate il at great leisure.
leaving the head and the tail upon the
grass. Then he picked out larger one.
as if he regarded the first as merely an
appetizer.
As he gnawed luxurlously at the silver
and-buff, vermilion-spotted titbit, an i'm
mense shadow foated between him and
the sun. He did not take time to look up
and see what il was. Ii was as if the
touch OF the shadow had looSed power.
fuI spring. He simply shot from his
piace,-at such speed that the eye could
not distinguish how he did it,-and in the
minutest fraction OF second was curled
within the empty fishing basket, which
still lay on its side, half open. A pair of
long, black, sicklecurved talous, sur
mounted by thickly feathered grey
shanks, clutched at the place where he
had stood.
Furious at having missed her strike, the
great horned owl, that tigress OF the air,
tapped up again on her soundless, downy
wings, and swooped suddenly at the bas-
ket, as if trying TO turn it over. AS her
talonS clawed at the wickerwork, feeling
for hold, the head of the mink, on its
long, snaky neck, darted forth, reached
up, and struck its fine white fangs into
her thigh.
But the great OWLS armour OF feathers,
though it looked so soft and fluffy, was
in fact amazingly resistant. The mink's
long teeth reached the flesh, and drew
blood but he gained no grip. That
steel-muscled thigh was wrenched from
his jaws, leaving him with an embaras-
sing mouthful OF down. He ierked his
head into cover again, just as the bird
made another lightning clutch at him.
For all his rage, the mink kept his wits
about him. He knew the owl for one OF
his most dangerous rivals and adversa-
ries. He knew that he could kill her if
once he could reach her throat, or get his
grip fixed on one of her mighty wings,
close TO the base. But that if kept him
prudent. He was too well aware that in
an open combat he was more than likely
to get his neck or his back into the clutch
of those inexorable talons. and that
would be the end of him. Discreetly,
therefore, he kept himself well within the
basket, which was large enough TO hold
him comfortably. He snarled shnllY
through the little square hole in the cover,
while his assailant, baked of her prey
and furious with the smart of her wound,
pounced once more upon the basket and
strove to claw an entrance. A chance