The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER I-continued.

.
The squirrel was very close TO him.
and Dan seemed to know by instinct
that the movement of n single muscle
would give him away. So he sat as II
he were posing before a photogra.
piers camera. The fact that he was
able to do It is In Itself important. II
IA considerably easier to exercise
with dumb-bells for Ave minutes than
to sit absolutely without motion for
the same length of time. Hunters
and naturalists acquire the art with
training. 1t was therefore rather cu-
rious that Dan succeeded so well the
first time he tried It. He had sense
enough to relax first, before he froze,
Thus he didn't put such a severe
strain on his muscles.
The squirrel, after ten seconds had
elapsed, stood on his launches to see
better. First he looked a long time
with his left eye. Then he turned his
head and looked very carefully with
his right Then he backed Off a short
distance and tried to get focus with
both. Then he came some half-dozen
steps nearer.
A moment before he had been GER
tein that living creature-in fact
one Of the most terrible and powerful
living creatures In the world-had
been sitting on the park bench. Now
his poor little brain was completely
added. He was entirely ready to be-
lieve that his eyes had deceived him.
Bushy-tail drew of a little further
fully convinced at last that his hopes
OF a nut from a chlld's hand were
blasted. But he turned to look once
more. The figure still sat utterly in
ert. And all at once he forgot his de-
vOuring hunger In the face Of an over
whelming curiosity.
He came somewhat nearer and
looked long time. Then he made a
half-circle about the bench, turning
his head as he moved. He was more
puzzled than ever. but he was no
longer afrnld. His curiosity had be-
come so intense that no room for fear
wns left. And then he sprang upon
the park bench.
Dan moved then. The movement
consisted Of sudden helghtening of
the light In his eyes. But the SOUR.
rel didn't see 1t. Il takes a muscular
response to be visible to the eyes of
the wild things.
The squirrel crept slowly along the
bench, stopping to sniff, stopping to
stare with one eye and another. Just
devoured from head to tail with curl.
Osity. And then he Ieaped on Dams
Knee.
He was quite convinced. by now.
that tthis warm perch on which he
stood was the most singular and In.
teresting object Of his young life. II
was true that he was family worried
by the smell that reached his nostrils.
But all II really did was further to In
cite his curiosity. He followed the
leg up to the hip and then perched on
the elbow. And an instant more ne
wns poking a cold nose into Dams
neck.
But II the squirrel was excited by
all these developments, its amazement
was nothing compared to Dams. II
had been the most astounding Incl
dent in the mans life. He sat still
tingling with delight. And In single
flash OF inspiration he knew he had
come among his own people at last He
knew where he would spend his last
six months OF life.
His own grandfather had been 9
hunter and trapper and frontiersmar
in a certain vast but little known Ore
ROn forest, His son had moved - th'
eastern cities. but in Dams garre
there used TO be old mementOes anC
curIos from these savage days-a few
claws and teeth, and fragment Of al
old diary. The call had come to hin
nt last Tenderfoot though he was
Dan would go back to those forests
- spend his last six months Of III