The Coconino sun., 1921-05-27
COL. BANTA TELLS OF
 ' THE BURRO'S CUNNING.

At some time in the misty ages of the past, mankind once possessed a sixth sense, but lost it through cen- turies of disuse. All animals and birds are endowed with this sense. Failing to comprehend this wonderful gift, mankind usually passes it off win the single word-instinct. Years of observation have proven, that ani- mals and birds not only possess the wonderful sixth sense, they also have the faculty of thought and reason. The following truthful incident is re- lated, being one of many of similar import, to prove that animals think and reason.
 The summer of 1864, Poker" John son had a hay camp below the "Rocks;" some of the hay-cutters, or rather hay-diggers, as the hay was dug with hoes, were Mexicans, one of whom owned burro that was a mo- torious camp thief, but this fact was unknown to the Americans. One hundred and fifty yards eastward of camp were some walnut trees where the bunch of burros put in much of their time Every evening for more than a week one of the burros was seen standing out by itself and in- tently gazing at the camp. Subse- quent events developed the object of its interest in the camp; he was en- deavoring to locate the cook. Every third day batch of sour dough was set to rise near the south end of the fire. One evening, the dough being out, that burro was seen approaching the camp, all the while pretending to be feeding, although not spear of grass nor a weed on the ground; grad ually it neared the campfire, and when within about four feet of the dough it stopped, half closed its eyes, dropping its head and long ears hang ing down, it apparently went into a deep sleep, innocent as lamb with no evil intent. Johnny Behan said: ''Pshaw, it came to sleep in the smoke" For several minutes ''inno- cence" continued to sleep; all had ceased to notice the brute, and it was for this that it waited and watched through the corner of it's half closed eye; suddenly sleeping innocence" plunged his nose into that dough and strung it from camp to the walnut trees. Everybody but the cook roared with laughter at the cuteness of the brute As a general rule cooks are blessed with angelic dispositions; nev- ertheless, he swore to get even, and placed a heavy, long handled shovel handy for the purpose. We told the cook of the cunning actions of the burro, and that it turned it's head away when he faced it. "All right, let me know when to turn and I"ll give him the surprise of his life"
 Several days passed and the incident had been forgotten, when the burro was seen approaching camp, going through the same maneuvers. When 1t had reached the proper place, the cook was told to turn and as he did the burro turned his head backward and then the cook landed. on his ribs with his long handled shovel, almost smashing it's ribs. That burro was surprised all right, and rushed for the walnut trees, turned and bawled few times, shook his ears and walked away.
 "Now I am even," said the cook, land I think he will keep out of this camp" Not so, the cook was count ing his chickens before matching, as the sequel shows. Here is where that burro showed his power of reason. For its intended purpose, the wind must blow to the west, thus forcing the cook to use the east side of the fire to avoid the smoke, and in this position his back would be towards the burros under the trees. About two weeks after the lambasting incident, the wind blew westward, driving the smoke to our side of the fire, and forcing the cook to the east side; this the burro had waited for to even up with the cook. There was no dough this evening and when the burro was seen coming again, Behan and the writer wondered what the deuce it was after this time, and as our curosity was aroused we decided to watch the animal and say nothing. A large cof- fee pot was on the log-fre and the cook with a large frying pan filled with bacon and grease was stooping over the fire holding the handle of the