The Detroit times., 1915-07-17

Bumpy Postum knows that this is
true. But he didn't believe II when
Redtail the Hawk dropped him in
that great nest with the hungry-look-
ing little hawks. No. sir, Bumpy
didn't believe 1t then. The truth Is
ne hadn't the teeniest, weeniest Dit
OF hope. There he was in that nest
way up In the top of tall tree with
three fierce-looking little hawks and
old Redtail himself sitting on
branch close by looking on. what
should he do? What should he DO
Bumpy was too frightened and too
hopeless 10 think. But he did re-
member one thing and that one thing
a. one OF the first lessons which
old Mother Possum had taught him.
when in danger pretend you are
dead no matter what happens. IL
seemed to Bumpy as II IT was ola
Mother Possums voice. or course
IL wasn't. II was just the little voice
of memory inside. But Bunny heed
ed IL. He lay just as he was drop
ped. He didn't move so much as an
eyelash. II you could have seen him
then you surely would have thought
him as dead ms the deadest thing
Won ever saw. The little hawks
thought him dead They hardly
looked at him. You see 1t just hap
pened that while old Redtail was
hunting for something for them 10
cat Mrs. Redtail had brought them
good breakfast. all they could eat
and more. too. SO though they were
so very hungry-looking they were not
hungry at all just then. Bunny
would keep until they were hungry
again.
So they just pushed and pulled
him out of the way near the eose
OF the nest and then settled them
selves for nap while Redtail new
away To join Mrs. Redtail, who was
still hunting for more food FOR her
babies. Bumpy lay as still as stlii
could be just where he had Deen
showed 10 near the edge OF the nest,
expecting every minute 10 feel the
sharp. cruel bills of the three young
hawks. Nothing happened. After n
long time he opened one eye. Ked-
tail was nowhere to be seen and the
three little hawks were asleep. Every
move hurt him so that he wanted 10
suueal right out, but he gritted his
teeth and didn't make a sound. Lit
lie by little he crawled to the very
edge of the nest. Just as he got
there one of the young hawks open
cd his eyes Bumpy didn't wait q
second. He just scrambled over the
edge. The young hawk grabbed at
him and pinched the end Of his tall.
but he didn't get hold of enough to
pull Bumpy back. Bumpy pulled
with all his might and the end OF
his tail slipped out Of the little
'.cwk's I'LL so suddenly that Bunny
fell. But he didn't fall far. He
caught a friendly branch OF the tree
and then he scrambled down as fast
as ever he could. Never in all his
life had he scrambled down a tree
\ like that.
Once on the ground, he hid under
an old log He was safe for the time
being and he was. oh. 80 thankful.
| His coat was dreadfully torn, and
he was almost too sore to move, but
he had escaped and he could think
of nothing else. As soon as the way
was clear he would steal away and
find a hollow tree in which he could
nurse his wounds and feel perfectly
safe. And this Is just what he did
do He had seen all he wanted to
of the Great World and from that
time on was content to set enough
to eat and seldom go far from his
hollow tree. so that he grew up. es-
Gaping all the dangers OF the Green
Forest, and so far as | know Is liv-